The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
Post on 03-Apr-2018
221 Views
Preview:
Transcript
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 1/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 2/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 3/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 4/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 5/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 6/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 7/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 8/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 9/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 10/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 11/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 12/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 13/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 14/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 15/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 16/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 17/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 18/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 19/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 20/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 21/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 22/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 23/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 24/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 25/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 26/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 27/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 28/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 29/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 30/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 31/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 32/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 33/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 34/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 35/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 36/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 37/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 38/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 39/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 40/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 41/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 42/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 43/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 44/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 45/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 46/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 47/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 48/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 49/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 50/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 51/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 52/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 53/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 54/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 55/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 56/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 57/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 58/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 59/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 60/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 61/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 62/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 63/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 64/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 65/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 66/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 67/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 68/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 69/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 70/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 71/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 72/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 73/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 74/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 75/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 76/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 77/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 78/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 79/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 80/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 81/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 82/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 83/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 84/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 85/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 86/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 87/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 88/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 89/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 90/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 91/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 92/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 93/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 94/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 95/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 96/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 97/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 98/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 99/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 100/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 101/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 102/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 103/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 104/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 105/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 106/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 107/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 108/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 109/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 110/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 111/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 112/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 113/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 114/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 115/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 116/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 117/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 118/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 119/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 120/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 121/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 122/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 123/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 124/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 125/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 126/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 127/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 128/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 129/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 130/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 131/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 132/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 133/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 134/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 135/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 136/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 137/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 138/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 139/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 140/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 141/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 142/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 143/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 144/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 145/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 146/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 147/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 148/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 149/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 150/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 151/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 152/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 153/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 154/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 155/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 156/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 157/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 158/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 159/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 160/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 161/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 162/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 163/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 164/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 165/481
HENRY VIII. 151
execution. Henry thought, that the prefent perplexity of c "
^p *
that law encreafed his authority, and kept the clergy in y
v»
flill greater dependence.J 53 6 «
Farther progrefs was made in completing the union
of Wales with England : The feparate jurifdictionsof fe-
veral ereat lords or marchers, as thev were called, which
obftructcd the courfe of juftice in Wales, and encouraged
robbery and pillaging, were abolifhed ; and the authority
of the king's courts was extended every where. Some
jurifdictionsof a like nature in England were alfo abo-
lifhede this feffion.
The commons, fenfible that they had gained nothing
by oppofing the king's will, when he formerly endeavoured
tofecure the
profitsof
wardshipsand
liveries,were now
contented to frame a law f, fuch as he dictated to them.
It was enacted, that the pofFeflion of land fhall be ad-
judged to be in thofe who have the ufe of it, not in thofe
to whom it is transferred in truft.
After all thefe laws were pafTed, the king diflblved
the parliament ; a parliament memorable, not only for the Hth AP nl *
great and important innovations which it introduced, but
alfo for the long time it had fitten, and the frequent pro-
rogations which it had undergone. Henry had found it fo
obfequious to his will, that he did not chufe, during thofe
religious ferments, to hazard a new election ; and he con-
tinued the fame parliament above fix years : A practice,
at that time, unufual in England.The convocation, which fat during this feffion, was a corwo-
engaged in a very important work, the deliberating on the
new tranflation which was projected of the fcrirnures.
The tranflation given by Tindal, though corrected byhimfelf in a new edition, was ftill complained of by the
clergy,as inaccurate and unfaithful
;and it was now
propofed to them, that they fhculd themfelves pubiifh
9 27 Hen. VIII. c 4.f
27 Hen. VIII. c. jo.
La a tranf-
cati'-n.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 166/481
152 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,C H A P. a tranflation, which would not be liable to thofe obiec-
XXXf. .*
i i tions.
'53 6«
The friends of the reformation afTerted, that nothingcould be more abfurd than to conceal, in an unknown
tongue, the word of God itfelf, and thus to counteract
the will of heaven, which, for the purpofe of univerfal
falvation, had publifhed that falutary doctrine to all na-
tions : That if this practice were not very abfurd, the ar-
tifice at lead was very grofs, and proved a confcioufnefs,
that the gloffes and traditions of the clergy ftood in direct:
oppofition to the original text, dictated by Supreme In-
telligence : That it was now neceffary for the people, fo
long abufed by interehred pretenfions, to fee with their
own eyes, and to examine whether the claims of the ec-
clefiaftics were founded on that charter, which was on all
hands acknowledged to be derived from heaven : Andthat, as a fpirit of reiearch and curiofity was happily
revived, and men were now obliged to make a choice
amono- the contending doctrines of different fects, the
proper materials for decifion, arid above all, the holy
fcriptures, fhould be fet before them ; and the revealed
will of God, whichthe
changeof
languagehad forne-
what obfcured, be again, by their means, revealed to
mankind.
The favourers of the ancient religion maintained, on
the other hand, that the pretence of making the people
fee with their own eyes, was a mere cheat, and was itfelf
a very grofs artifice, by which the new preachers hoped
to obtain the guidance of them, and to feduce them from
thofe parlors, whom the laws, whom ancient efrablifh-
ments, whom heaven itfelf had appointed for their fpiritual
direction : That the people were, by their ignorance,their flupidity, their necelfary avocations, totally unqua-lified to chufe their own principles ; and it was a mock-
pry to fet materials before them, of which they could notm
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 167/481
HENRY VIII. 153
poflibly make any proper ufe : That even in the affairs c|5 v
a p.
of common life, and in their temporal concerns, which v,., . v ;
lay more within the compafs of human reafon, the laws «53 6 -
had, in a great meafure, deprived them of the right of
private judgment, and had, happily for their own and the
public intereft, regulated their conduct and behaviour :
That theological queftions were placed far beyond the
fphere of vulgar comprehenfions ; and ecclefiaftics them-
felves, though afiifted by all the advantages of education,
erudition, and an affiduous ftudy of the fcience, could not
be fully affured of a juft decifion ; except by the promife
made them in fcripture, that God would be ever prefent
with his church, and that the gates of hell mould not
prevail againir her : That the grofs errors, adopted by the
wifeft heathens, proved how unfit men were to grope their
own way, through this profound darknefs ; nor would
the fcriptures, if trufted to every man's judgment, be able
to remedy 5 on the contrary, they would much augment,thofe fatal illufions : That facred writ itfeif was involved
in fo much obfeurity, gave rife to fo many difficulties,
contained fo many appearing contradictions, that it was
the moft dangerous weapon, that could be entrufted into
the hands of the ignorant and giddy multitude : That the
poetical ftyle,in which a great part of it was compofed,
at the fame time that it occafioned uncertainty in the
fenfe, by its multiplied tropes and figures, was fufficient
to kindle the zeal of fanaticifm, and thereby throw civil
focietyinto the moft furious cumbuftion : That a thou-
fand feels muft arife, which would pretend, each of them,
to deiive its tenets from the fcripture ; and would be able,
by fpecious arguments, or even without fpecious argu-
ments, to feduce filly women and ignorant mechanics,
into a belief of the moft monftrous principles : And that
if ever this diforder, dangerous to the magiftrate himfelf,
received a remedy, it mult be from the tacit acquiefcence•
0$
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 168/481
154 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C HA P. of the people in fome new authority ; and it was evi-
*.. , v/ dently better, without farther conteft or
enquiry,to ad-
*Stf' here peaceably to ancient, and therefore the more fecure,
eftablifhments.
These latter arguments, being more agreeable to ec-
clefiafiical governments, would probably have prevailed
in the convocation, had it not been for the authority of
Cranmer, Latimer, and fome other bifhops, who were
fuppofed to fpeak the king's fenfe of the matter. A vote
was pafTcd for publishing a new tranflation of the fcrip-
tures : and in three years' time the work was finifhed,
and printed at Paris. This was deemed a great point
gained by the reformers, and a confiderable advancement
of their caufe. Farther progrefs was foon expected, after
fuch importantfuccefTes.
But while the retainers to the new religion were ex-
ulting in their profperity, they met with a mortification,
wT hich feemed to blaft all their hopes : Their patronefs,
Anne Boleyn, pofTeiTed no longer the king's favour ; and
foon after loft her life, by the rage of that furious mo-
Difgraceofnarch. Henry had perfevered in his love to this lady,
queenAnne, during fix years that his profecution of the divorce lafted ;
and the more obftacles he met with to the gratification of
his paffion, the more determined zeal did he exert in
purfuing his purpofe. But the affection, which had fub-
fided, and ftill encreafed, under difficulties, had not
long attained fecure pofleflion of its objedt, when it
languifhed from fatiety ; and the king's heart was appa-
rently eftranged from his confort. Anne's enemies foon
perceived the fatal change ; and they were forward to
widen the breach, when they found that they incurred
no danger by interpofing in thofe delicate concerns. She
had been delivered of a dead fon ; and Henry's extreme
fondnefs for male ifTuebeing thus,
for theprefent,
dis-
appointed, his temper, equally violent and fuperftitious,
was
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 169/481
HENRY VIII. 155
was difpofed to make the innocent mother anfwerable for c "^
p .
the misfortune s. But the chief means which Anne's v v 1
enemies employed to inflame the king againft her, was 'SS 6 *
his jealoufy.
Anne, though fhe appears to have been entirely inno-
cent, and even virtuous, in h^r conduct, had a certain
gaiety, if not levity, of character, which threw her ofF
her cruard, and made her lei's circumfpecl: than her fitua-
tion required. Her education in France rend red her the
more prone to thofe freedoms; and it was with difficulty
fhe conformed herfeif to that ftridi ceremonial, praclifed
in the court of England. More vain than haughty, (he
was pleafed to fee the influence of her beauty on all around
her, and fhe indulged herfeif in an eafy familiarity with
perfons, who were formerly her equals, and who mightthen have pretended to her friendship and good graces.
Henry's dignity was offended with thefe popular man-
ners ; and though the lover had been entirely blind, the
hufband polTeiTed but too quick difcernment and penetra-
tion. Ill inftruments interpofed, and put a malignant
interpretation on the harmlefs liberties of the queen : Thevifcountefs of Rocheford, in particular, who was married
to the queen's brother, but who lived on bad terms with
her fifter-in-law, infinuated the moll: cruel fufpicions in-
to the king's mind ; and as fhe was a woman of a profli-
gate character, The paid no regard either to truth or hu-
manityin thofe calumnies which fhe
fuggefted.She
pretended, that her own hufband was engaged in a cri-
minal correfpondence with his fifter ; and not content
with this imputation, fhe poifoned every action of the
queen's, and reprefented each inftance of favour, which
fhe conferred on any one, as a token of affection. Henry
Norris, groom of the ftole, Wefton and Brereton,
gentlemen of the king's chamber, together with Marie
S Bur.net, vol, i, p. 196,
Smetoxi*
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 170/481
156 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
vv^tP '
Smcton, groom of the chamber, were obferved to pofTefs
<—~v /much of the queen's friendfhip ; and they ferved her with
*53 6 » a zeal and attachment, which, though chiefly derived
from gratitude, might not improbably be feafoned with
fome mixture of tendernefs for fo amiable a princefs.
The king's jealoufy laid hold of the flighteft circum-
ffance ; and finding no particular object on which it
could faften, it vented itfelf equally on every one that
came within theverge
of itsfury.
Had Henry's jealoufy been derived from love, thoughit might on a fudden have proceeded to the moft violent
extremities, it would have been fubjecl: to many remorfes
and contrarieties ; and might at laft have ferved only to
augment that affection, on which it was founded. Butit was more a ftern jealoufy, foftered entirely by pride :
His love was transferred to another obj eel:. Jane, daugh-ter of Sir John Seymour, and maid of honour to the
queen, a young lady of lingular beauty and merit, had
obtained an entire afcendant over him-,
and he was de-
termined to facrifice every thing to the gratification of
this new appetite. Unlike to moft. monarchs, who judge
lightly of the crime of gallantry, and who deem the
young damfels of their court rather honoured than dis-
graced by their paflion, he feldom thought of any other
attachment than that of marriage ; and in order to at-
tain this end, he underwent more difficulties, and commit-
ted greater crimes, than thofe which he fought to avoid,
\>y formingthat
legalconnexion. And
havingthus en-
tertained the defign of raifing his new miftrefs to his bed
and throne, he more willingly hearkened to every fugge*
flion, which threw any imputation of guilt on the unfor-
tunate Anne Boleyn.
iftMay. The king's jealoufy firft appeared openly in a tilting
at Greenwich, where the queen happened to drop her
handkerchief j an incident probably cafual, but inter-
preted
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 171/481
HENRY VIII. 157
preted by him as an inftance of gallantry to fome of her c ^ A p »
. XA.XI.
paramoursh
. He immediately retired from the place ;
fent orders to confine her to her chamber; arretted Nor- *Sfr
ris, Brereton, Wefton, and Smeton, together with her
brother, Rocheford ; and threw them into prifon. The
queen, aftonifhed at thefe inftances of his fury, thoughtthat he meant only to try her j but finding him in ear-
neft, fhe reflected on his obftinate unrelenting fpirit, and
{heprepared
herfelf for thatmelancholy doom,
which
was awaiting her. Next day, fhe was fent to the
Tower ; and on her way thither, fhe was informed of
her fuppofed offences, of which fhe had hitherto been
ignorant : She made earneft protections of her inno-
cence ; and when fhe entered the prifon, fhe fell on her
knees, and prayed God fo to help her, as fhe was not
guilty of the crime imputed to her. Her furprife and
confufion threw her into hyfterical diforders ; and in that
fituation, fhe thought that the belt proof of her inno-
cence was to make an entire confeffion, and fhe revealed
fome indifcretions and levities, which her iimpJicity had
equally betrayed her to commit and to avow. She owned,
that fhe had once rallied Norris on his delaying his mar-riage, and had told him, that he probably expected her,
when fhe fhould be a widow : She had reproved Wefton,fhe faid, for his affection to a. kinfwoman of hers, and
his indifference towards his wife : But he told her, that
fhe had miftaken the object of his affection, for it was
herfelf: Upon which, fhe defied him 1. She affirmed,
that Smeton had never been in her chamber but twice,
when he played on the harpfichord : But fhe acknow-
ledged, that he had once had the boldnefs to tell her,
that a look fufliced him. The king, inftead of beingfatisfied with the candour and fincerity of her confeffion,
regarded thefe indifcretions only as preludes to greater
and more criminal intimacies.
b Burnet, vol. L p. 198,*
Straps, vol. i. p. *8i.
Of
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 172/481
i 5 S HISTORY OF ENGLAND,c
_J^5rP ' ^ F a ^ thofe multitudes, whom the beneficence of trig
w—^—-' queen s temper had obliged, during her profperous for-
*S3 6 '
tune, no one durft interpoie between her and the king's
fury; and the perfon, whofe advancement every breath
had favoured, and every countenance had fmiled upon,was now left neglected and abandoned. Even her uncle*
the duke of Norfolk, preferring the connexions of part-' to
the ties of blood, was become her mod dangerous enemy;and all the retainers to the catholic religion hoped, that
her death would terminate the king's quarrel with Rome,and. leave him again to his natural and early bent, whichhad inclined him to maintain the moft intimate union
with the apoftolic fee. Crammer alone, of all the queen's
adherents, ftill retained his iriendfhip for her ; and, as
far as the king's impetuofity permitted him, he endea-
voured to moderate the violentprejudices,
entertained
againft her.
The queen herfelf wrote Henry a letter from the
Tower, full of the moft tender expoftulations, and of
the warmeft proteftations of innocence k. This letter
had no influence on the unrelenting mind of Henry*Who was determined to pave the way for his new mar-
riage by the death of Anne Boleyn. Norris, Wefton,
Brereton, and Smeton, were tried ; but no legal evi-
dence was produced againft them. The chief proof of
their guilt confifted in a hear-fay from one lady Wing-field, who was dead. Smeton was prevailed on, by the
vain hopes of life, to confefs a criminal correfpondence
with the queenl
; but even her enemies expectedlittle
advantage from this conieilion : For they never dared to
confront him with her-,
and he was immediately exe-
cuted ; as were alfo Brereton and Wefton. Norris had
been much in the king's favour; and an offer of life was
made him, if he would confefs his crime, and accufe
* See r.ote [C] at the end of thevclume*1
Burnet, vol. i.-p. 202,
ths
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 173/481
HENRY VIII. 159
the queen : But he generoufly rejected the propofal ; and C H a p.
faid, that in his confcience he believed her entirely guilt- <__
y_ *_,
lefs : But, for his part, he could accufe her of nothing, 15s 6 *
and he would rather die a thoufand deaths than calum-
niate an innocent perfon.
The queen and her brother were tried by a jury ofHertrial:
peers, confifting of the duke of Suffolk, the marquis of
Exeter, the earl of Arundel, and twenty-three more :
Their uncle, the duke of Norfolk, prefided as high
fteward. Upon what proof or pretence the crime of
inceft was imputed to them is unknown : The chief evi-
dence, it is faid, amounted to no more than that Roche-
ford had been feen to lean on her bed before fome com-
pany. Part of the charge againft her was, that fhe had
affirmed to her minions, that the kins: never had her
heart ;and had faid to each of them
apart,that fhe loved
him better than any perfon whatfoever : Which was to
the Jlander of the iffue begotten between the king and her. Bythis ftrained interpretation, her guilt was brought under
the ftatute of the 25th of this reign ; in which it was
declared criminal to throw any flander upon the king,
queen, or their ifTue. Such palpable abfurdities were,
at that time, admitted ; and they were regarded by the
peers of England as a fufficient reafon for facrincing an
innocent queen to the cruelty of their tyrant. Thoughunaflifted by counfel, fhe defended herfelf with prefenceof mind ; and the fpe&ators could not forbear pro-
nouncing her entirely innocent. Judgment, however,
was given by the court, both againft the queen and lordRocheford ; and her verdict contained, that fhe fhould
be burned or beheaded at the king's pleafure. Whenthis dreadful fentence was pronounced, fhe was not ter-
rified, but lifting up her hands to heaven, faid," O,
" Father ! O, Creator ! thou who art the way, the"
truth, and the life, thou knoweft that I have not
2 " defervtd
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 174/481
160 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A P. « deferved this fate." And then turning to the
XXXI.l.. -, "_f j"^ p -g
j made the moft. pathetic declarations of her in-
x53
6 *
nocence.Henry, not fatisfied with this cruel vengeance, was
refolved entirely to annul his marriage with Anne Boleyn,
and to declare her ifTue illegitimate : He recalled to his
memory, that, a little after her appearance in the Englifh
court, fame attachment had been acknowledged between
her and the earl of Northumberland, then lord Piercy ;
and he now queftioned the nobleman with regard to thefe
engagements. Northumberland took an oath before the
two archbifhops, that no contract or promife of marriage
had ever paffed between them : He received the facra-
ment upon it, before the duke of Norfolk and others of
the privy council ; and this folemn act he accompanied
with the moft folemn proteftations of veracity m . The
queen, however, was fhaken by menaces of executing
the fentence againft her in its greateft rigour, and was
prevailed on to confefs in court, fome lawful impediments
to her marriage with the kingn
. The afflicted primate,
who fat as judge, thought himfelf obliged by this con-
fefflon, to pronounce the marriagenull and invalid.
Henry, in the tranfports of his fury, did not perceive
that his proceedings were totally inconfiftent, and that,
if her marriage were, from the beginning, invalid, fhe
could not pofflbly be guilty of adultery,
and exeat- The queen now prepared for fuffering the death to
tian *
which fhe was fentenced. She fent her laft meflage to
the kin^, and acknowledged the obligations which (he
owed him, in thus uniformly continuing his endeavours
for her advancement : From a private gentlewoman, fhe
faid, he had firfl: made her a marchionefs, then a queen,
and now, fince he could raife her no higher in this
world, he was fending her to be a faint in heaven. She
m Herbert, p. 3S4.n Heylin, p. 94.
then
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 175/481
HENRY VIII. 161
then renewed the proteftations of her innocence, and re - Cx X xi
l> '
commended her daughter to his care. Before the lieu-* ^»
tenant of the Tower, and all who approached her, (heJ
S3S -
made the like declarations ;and continued to behave her-
felf with her ufual ferenity, and even with chearfulnefs.
«' The executioner," fhe faid to the lieutenant,"
is, I
"hear, very expert ; and my neck is very flender :"
Upon which (he grafped it in her hand, and fmiled.
Whenbrought,
however, to the fcaffold, fhe foftened her 19th May.
tone a little with regard to her protections of innocence-
She probably reflected, that the obftinacy of queen Cathe-
rine, and her oppofition to the king's will, had much
alienated him from the lady Mary : Her own maternal
concern, therefore, for Elizabeth, prevailed in thefe laft
moments over that indignation, which the unjuft fen-
tence, by which fhe fuffered, naturally excited in her.
She faid, that fhe was come to die, as fhe was fentenced,
by the law : She would accufe none, nor fay any thing
of the ground upon which fhe was judged. She prayed
heartily for the king ; called him a molt, merciful and
gentle prince ; and acknowledged, that he had always
been to her a good and gracious fovereign ; and if anyone fhould think proper to canvafs her caufe, fhe defired
him to judge the beft °. She was beheaded by the exe-
cutioner of Calais, who was fent for as more expert
than any in England. Her body was negligently thrown
into a common cheft of elm-tree, made to hold arrows j
and was buried in the Tower.
The innocence of this unfortunate queen cannot rea-
fonably be called in queftion. Henry himfelf, in the
violence of his rage, knew not whom to accufe as her
lover -
9 and though he imputed guilt to her brother, and
four perfons more, he was able to bring proof againft
none of them. The whole tenour of her conduct for-
•Burnet, vol, i, p. 205,
Vol. IV. M bids
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 176/481
i6z HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
yxYiP, ^^ s us t0 afcribe to her an abandoned character, fuch a$
^—v .' is implied in the king's accufation : Had (he been fa
1 Sl** loft to all prudence and fenfe of fhame, fhe muft have
expofed herfelf to detection, and afforded her enemies
fome evidence againft her. But the king made the moft
effectual apology for her, by marrying Jane Seymour the
very day after her execution p. His impatience to gra-
tify this new paffion caufed him to forget all regard to
decency ; and his cruel heart was not foftened a moment
by the bloody cataftrophe of a perfon, who had fo longbeen the object of his moft tender affections.
The lady Mary thought the death of her ftep-mother
a proper opportunity for reconciling herfelf to the king,
who, belides other caufes of difg ;ft, had been offended
with her, on account of the part which fhe had taken in
her mother's quarrel. Her advances were not at firft re»
ceived ; and Henry exacted from her fome farther proofs
of fubmiffion and obedience : He required this young
princefs, then about twenty years of age, to adopt his
theological tenets ; to acknowledge his fupremacy ; to
renounce the pope -,and to own her mother's marriage to
be unlawful and inceftuous. Thefe points were of hard
digeftion with the princefs; but after fome delays, andeven refufals, {he was at laft prevailed on to write a letter
to her father % containing her affent to the articles re-
quired of her : Upon which fhe was received into favour.
But notwithstanding the return of the king's affection to
the iffue of his firft marriage, he divefted not himfelf of
kindnefs towards the lady Elizabeth ; and the new queen,
who was bleft with a lingular fweetnefs of difpofition,
difcovered ftrong proofs cf attachment towards her.
8th June The trial and conviction of queen Anne, and the fub-
ment. fequent events, made it neceflary for the king to fummon;
P Ibidem, p. 297* 9 Burnet, vol. i. p. 207. Strjpe, vol. i.
p. 285.
a new
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 177/481
HENRY VIII. 163
a new parliament ; and he here, in his fpeech, made a c H A p »
merit to his people, that, notwithftanding the misfor- j
tunes attending his two former marriages, he had been *53 6 '
induced, for their good, to venture on a third. The
fpeaker received this profeflion with fuitable gratitude ;
and he took thence occafion to praife the king for his
wonderful gifts of grace and nature : He compared him,
for juftice and prudence, to Solomon ; for ftrength and
fortitude toSampfon
; and for
beautyand comelinefs to
Abfalom. The king very humbly replied, by the mouth
of the chancellor, that he difavowed thefe praifes ; fince,
if he were really pofTefTed of fuch endowments, they were
the gift of Almighty God only. Henry found that the
parliament was no lefs fubmiflive in deeds than complaifant
in their exprefiions, and that they would go the fame
lengths as the former in gratifying even his mod lawlefs
paflions. His divorce from Anne Boleyn was ratified r;
that queen, and all her accomplices, were attainted ; the
iflue of both his former marriages were declared illegiti-
mate, and it was even made treafon to affert the legiti-
macy of either of them -
9 to throw any flander upon the
prefent king, queen$or their
iflue,was
fubjecledto the
fame penalty ; the crown was fettled on the king's iflue
by Jane Seymour, or any fubfequent wife ; and in cafe
he ihould die without children, he was impowered, byhis will or letters patent, to difpofe of the crown : Anenormous authority, efpecially when entrufted to a
prince fo violent and capricious in his humour. Who-
ever, being required, refufed to anfwer upon oath to anyarticle of this act of fettlement, was declared to be guilty
of treafon ; and by this claufe a fpecies of political in-
r The parliament, in annulling the king'* marriage with Anne Boleyn,
gives this as a reaion,** For that his hlghnefs had choien to wife the excel-
<* lent and virtuous lady J-ine, who for het cenvenent yea:?, excellent ben-ty,•' and purenefs of flefh and bk>cd, would be &p', Gyd willing, to conceive** iifue by his highnefs."
M 2 quifition
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 178/481
1 64 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c "
^,p «
quifition was eftablifhed in the kingdom, as well as th'2XXXI, ...
v—^-^/ accusations of treafon multiplied to an unreafonable de-
'S3 6 '
gree. The king wasalfo
empowered to confer on anyone, by his will or letters patent, any caftles, honours,
liberties, or franchifes ; words which might have been
extended to the difmembering of the kingdom, by the
erection of principalities and independant jurisdictions.
It was alfo, by another act, made treafon to marry,without the king's confent, any princefs related in the
firft degree to the crown. This act v/as occafioned bythe difcovery of a defign, formed by Thomas Howard,brother of the duke 01 Norfolk, to efpoufe the lady Mar-
garet Douglas, niece to the king, by his fifter the queenof Scots and the earl of Angus. Howard, as well as the
young lady, was committed to the Tower. She reco-
vered herliberty
foon after ; but he died in confinement.
An acl of attainder palled againft him this feffion of par-
liament.
Another acceflion was likewife gained to the authority
of the crown : The king or any of his fucceflbrs was em-
powered to repeal or annul, by letters patent, whatever
act of parliament had been palled before he was four and
twenty years of age. Whoever maintained the authority
of the bimop of Rome, by word or writ, or endeavoured
in any manner to reftore it in England, was fubjected to
the penalty of a premunire ; that is, his goods were for-
feited, and he was put out of the protection of law. And
any perfon who poflelTed any office, ecclefiaftical or civil,
or receivedany grant
or charter from thecrown,
andyet
refufed to renounce the pope by oath, was declared to be
guilty of treafon. The renunciation prefcribed runs in
the flyle of So help ?nc Gcd, all faints^ and the holy evangp*
liftss
. The pope, hearing of Anne Boleyn's difgrace and
death, had hoped that the door was opened to a reconci-
liation, and had been making feme advances to Henry :
« 28 Hen, VIII. c 10,
But
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 179/481
HENRY VIII. 165
But this was the reception he met with. Henry was now c H A p «
become indifferent withregard
topapal
ceniures ;
and^__^_jfinding a great encreafe of authority, as well as of revenue, 'S* 6,
to accrue from his quarrel with Rome, he was determined
to perfevere in his prefent meafures. This parliament
alfo, even more than any foregoing, convinced him how
much he commanded the refpecl of his fubjects, and what
confidence he might repofe in them. Though the elec-
tions had been made on a fudden, without any prepara-
tion or intrigue, the members difcovered an unlimited
attachment to his perfon and governmentc
.
The extreme complaifance of the convocation, whichAconvo*
fat at the fame time with the parliament, encouraged him
in his refolution of breaking entirely with the court of
Rome. There wasfecretly
agreat
divifion of fentiments
in the minds of this aflembly ; and as the zeal of the re-
formers had been augmented by fome late fuccefles, the
refentment of the catholics was no lefs excited by their
fears and lofTes : But the authority of the king kept every
one fubmiffive and fjlent ; and the new-aflumed preroga-
tive, the fupremacy, with whofe limits no one was fully
acquainted, reftrained even the moft furious movementsof theological rancour. Cromwel prefided as vicar-ge-
neral ; and though the catholic party expected, that, on
the fall of queen Anne, his authority would receive a
creat fhock, they were furprized to find him ftill maintain
the fame credit as before. With the vicar-general con-
curred Cranmer theprimate,
Latimerbifhop
of Wor-
cefter, Shaxton of Salifbury, Hilfey of Rochefter, Fox
of Hereford, Barlow of St. David's. The oppofite fac-
tion was headed by Lee archbifhop of York, Stokefley
bifhop of London, Tonftal of Durham, Gardiner of
Winchefter, Longland of Lincoln, Sherbone of Chichef-
$er ?Nix of Norwich, and Kite of Carlifle. The former
t Burnet, vol. i. p. 113,
M 3 party,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 180/481
1 66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.HA
XXXI.A p *
part)% by their oppofition to the pope, feconded the king's
ambition and love of power : The latter party, by main-
, 53 6 -
taining the ancient theological tenets, were more con-
formable to his fpeculative principles : And both of them
had alternately the advantage of gaining on his humour,
by which he was more governed than by either of thefe
motives.
The church in general was averfe to the reformation;
and the lowerhoufe of convocation framed a lift
of opi-nions, in the whole fixty-feven, which they pronounced
erroneous, and which was a collection of principles, fome
held by the ancient Lollards, others by the modern pro-
teflants, or Gofpellers, as they were fometimes called.
Thefe opinions they fent to the upper houfe to be cen-
fured ; but in the preamble of their reprefentation, theydiscovered the fervile fpirit, by which they were governed.
They faid," that they intended not to do or fpeak any
"thing which might be unpleafant to the king, whom
<cthey acknowledge their fupreme head, and whofe com-
* c mands they were refolved to obey ; renouncing the
pope's ufurped authority, with all his laws and inven-;c
tions, now extinguifhedand abolifhed
;and
addicting" themfelves to Almighty God and his laws, and unto" the king and the laws made within this kingdom
a ."
The convocation came at laft, after fome debate, to
decide articles of faith ; and their tenets were of as motleya kind as the affembly itfelf, or rather as the king's fyf-
tem of theology, by which they were refolved entirely to
fquare their principles. They determined the ftandard of
faith to confift in the Scriptures and the three creeds, the
Apoftolic, Nicene, and Athanafian ; and this article was
a fi_nal victory to the reformers : Auricular confeflion
and penance were admitted, a doctrine agreeable to the
catholics : No mention was made of marriage, extreme
uCollier, vol. ii. p, ng,
unclion,
4<
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 181/481
HENRY VIII. 167
unclion, confirmation, or holy orders, as facramentsjC^a^p.
and in this omiflion the influence of the proteftants ap-* vr —_/
peared : The real prefence was aflerted, conformably to »53*»
the ancient doctrine : The terms of acceptance were efta-
blifhed to be the merits of Chrift, and the mercy and
good pleafure of God, fuitably to the new principles.
So far the two feels feem to have made a fair partition,
by alternately fharing the feveral claufes. In framing the
fubfequent articles, each of them kerns to have thrown
in its ingredient. The catholics prevailed in aflerting,
that the ufe of images was warranted by Scripture ; the
proteftants, in warning the people againft idolatry, and
the abufe of thefe fenfible reprefentations. The ancient
faith was adopted in maintaining the expedience of pray-
ingto
faints;the late innovations in
rejectingthe
pecu-liar patronage of faints to any trade, protefiion, or courfe
of action The former rites of worftiip, the ufe of holy
water, and the ceremonies pracYifrd on Afh-wednefday,
Palm-funday, Good friday, and other feftivah, were (till
maintained; but the new refinements, which made light
of thefe inftitutions, were alfo adopted, by the convoca-
tion's denying that they had any immed.ate power of
remitting fin, and by its averting that their fob merit
confitfed in promoting pious and devout difpofitions in
the mind.
But the article, with regard to purgatory, contains
the moft curious jargon, ambiguity, and hefitation, ari-
fing from the mixture of oppofite tenets. It wa^ to this
purpofe :" Since according to due order of charity, and
" the book, of Maccabees, and divers ancient authors, it
u is a very good and charitable deed to pray for fouls de-"
parted ; and fince fuch a practice has been maintained" in the church from the beginning; all bifhops and6C teachers fhould inftrucl the people not to be grievedfi< for the continuance of the fame. But fince the plare
M 4" when
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 182/481
t68 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
vvvrD
* " where departed fouls are retained, before they reach
v——,,
;' c
Paradifc, as well as the nature of thejr pains, is left
1536. 4< uncertain by Scripture ; all fuch queftions are to be" fubmitted to God, to whofe mercy it is meet and con-* 8 venient to commend the deceafed, trufting that he ac-<c
cepteth our prayers for them w ."
These articles, when framed by the convocation, and
corrected by the king, were fubfcribed by every member,
of thatafTembly
;
while, perhaps,neither there
northroughout the whole kingdom, could one man be found,
except Henry himfelf, who had adopted precifely thefe
very doctrines and opinions. For though there be not
any contradiction in the tenets abovementioned, it had
happened in England, as in all countries where factious
divifions haye place ; a certain creed was embraced byeach party ; few neuters were to be found ; and thefe
confided only of fpeculative or whimfical people, of
whom two perfons could fcarcely be brought to an agree-
ment in the fame dogmas. The proteftants, all of them,
carried their oppofition to Rome farther than thofe arti-
cles : None of the catholics went fo far : And the king,
by being able to retain the nation in fuch a delicate me-dium, difplayed the utmoft power of an imperious de/po-
tifm, of which any hiftory furnifhes an example. Tochange the religion of a country, even when feconded bya party, is one of the mofl: perilous enterprizes, which
any fovereign can attempt, and often proves the moft de-
flruclive to royal authority, But Henry was able to fet
the political machine in that furious movement, and yet
regulate and even flop its career: He could fay to it, Thusfar (halt thou go and no farther : And he made every vote
of his parliament and convocation fubfervient, not onlyto his interefls and paflions, but even to his greateft
w Collier, vol. ii. p. 122, &fe<j, Fuller. Burnet, vol, i, p. 115.
caprices s
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 183/481
HENRY VIII. 169
Caprices; nay, to his moft refined and mod fcholaftic CJ^
A P.
fubtilties.*
v'
The concurrence of thefe two national afTemblies l Slfy
ferved, no doubt, to encreafe the king's power over the
people, and raifed him to an authority more abfolute,
than any prince, in a fimple monarchy, even by means
of military force, is ever able to attain. But there are
certain bounds, beyond which the moft flavifh fubmiflion
cannot be extended. AA the late innovations, particu-
larly the diflblution of the fmaller monafteries, and the
imminent danger to which all the reft were expofedx
, .
had bred difcontent among the people, and had difpofed
them to revclt. The expelled monks, wandering about
the country, excited both the piety and companion of
men ; and as the ancient religion took hold of the popu-
lace by powerful motives, fuited to vulgar capacity, it
was able, now that it was brought into apparent hazard,
to raife the ftrongeft zeal in its favour r. Difcontents Difcontent*
had even reached fome of the nobility and gentry, whofepe opls.
anceftors had founded the monafteries, and who placed a
vanity in thofe inftitutions, as well as reaped fome benefit
from them, by the provifions which they afforded themfor their younger children. The more fuperftitious were
jnterefted for the fouls of their forefathers, which, they
believed, muft now lie, during many ages, in the tor-
ments of purgatory, for want of maffes to relieve them.
Jt feemed unjuft to abolifh pious inftitutions for the faults,
real or pretended, of individuals. Even the moft mode-
rate and reasonable deemed it fomewhat iniquitous, that
men, who had been invited into a courfe of life by all the
laws, human and divine, which prevailed in their coun-
try, fhould be turned out of their pofieffions, and fo little
care be taken of their future fubfiftence. And when it
was obferved, that the rapacity and bribery of the com-
x See note [H] at the end of the volume y Strype, vol. i.
miffioners
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 184/481
i 7 o HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap. miiHoners and others, employed in vifiting the monafte*
AAA. 1* % m
\ /ries, intercepted much of the profits refulting from thefe
J 53 6, confifcations, it tended much to encreafe the o-eneral dif-
content z.
But the people did not break into open fedition, till
the complaints of the fecular clergy concurred with thofe
or the regular. As Cromwel's perfon was little accept-able to the ecclefiaftics ; the authority, which he exer-
cifed, being fo new, fo abfolute, fo unlimited, infpiredthem with difguft and terror. He publifhed, in the king's
name, without the confent either of parliament or con-
vocation, an ordonance, by which he retrenched many of
the ancient holydays ; prohibited feveral fuperftitions,
gainful to the clergy, fuch as pilgrimages, images, re-
liques ; and even ordered the incumbents in the parifhes
to fet apart a confiderable portion of their revenue for re-
pairs, and for the fupport of exhibitioners and the poor of
their parifh. The fecular priefts, finding themfelves thus
reduced to a grievous fervitude, inftilled into the peoplethofe difcontents, which they had long harboured in their
own bofoms.
The firft rifing was in Lincolnfhire. It was headed
by Dr. Mackrel, prior of Barlings, who was difguifedlike a mean mechanic, and who bore the name of captainCobler. This tumultuary army amounted to above
Jnfurrec- 20,000 men a; but natwithftanding their number, they
fhowed little difpofition of proceeding to extremities
againft the king, and feemed ftill overawed by his autho-
rity. They acknowledged him to be fupreme head of thechurch of England j
but they complained of fuppreflingthe monasteries, of evil counfellors, of perfons meanlyborn raifed to dignity, of the danger to which the jewelsand plate of their parochial churches were expofed : And
they prayed the kng to confult the nobility of the realm•
= Burnet, vol. i. p. 223. a Ibid. p. 237. Hetbcrt.»• * t . 1*
concerning
tion.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 185/481
HENRY VIII. 171
concerning the redrefs of thefe grievancesb
. Henry was c ** a p.
littledifpofed
to entertainapprehenflons
ofdanger, rfpp--. v
*
cially from a low multitude, whom he defpifed. He fent 'S 6 *nil ^ ^ cl °b»
forces againft. the rebels under the command of the duke
of Suffolk ; and he returned them a very iharp anfwer to
their petition. There were fome gentry, whom the po-
pulace had conftrained to take part with them, and who
kept a fee ret correfpondence with Suffolk. They in-
formed him, that refentment againft the king's reply wasthe chief caufe, which retained the malcontents in arm?,
and that a milder anfwer would probably fupprefs the re-
bellion. Henry had levied a great force at London, with
which he was preparing to march againft the rebels ; and
being fo well fupported by power, he thought, that,
withoutlofing
hisdignity,
hemight
now fnow them
fome greater condefceniion. He fenta new proclamation,
requiring them to return to their obedience, with fecret
affurances of pardon. This expedient had its effe£t :
The populace was difperf d : Mackrel and feme of their
leaders fell into the king's hands, ancj were executed :
The greater part of the multitude rt tired peaceably to their
ufual occupations ; A few of the more obftipate fled to
the north, where they joined the infurreet.on that was
raifed in thofe parts.
The northern rebe.'s, as they were more numerous,were alfo, on other accounts, more f vrmicable man thofe
of Lincolnshire j becaufe the people were there more ac-
cuflomed to arms, and becaule of their vicinity to thej
j
Scots, who might make advantage of thefe difor,ders.
One Afkc, a gentleman, had taken the corr nand of
them, and he poiTeiRd the art of governing the ••puiace.
Their e? terprize they called the Pilgrimage of Grace :
Some prieils march d before in the habits of thrr o der,
tarrying crpffesin their hands : In their banners was
b Herbert, p. 410.
woven
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 186/481
i/2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C & A P. woven a crucifix, with the reprefentation of a chalice,*
,
- i and of the five wounds of Chrift c: They wore on their
*$*«• fleeve an emblem of the five wounds, with the name of
Jefus wrought in the middle : They all took an oath, that
they had entered into the pilgrimage of grace from no,
other motive, than their love to God, their care of the
Ring's perfon and iffue, their dqfire of purifying the no-
bility, of driving bafe-bprn perfons from about the king,of "reftoring the church, and of fupprefling herefy. Al-
lured by thefe fair pretences, about 40,000 men from the
counties of York, Durham, Lancafler, and thofe nor-
thern provinces, flocked to their ftandard -
} and their
seal, no lefs than their numbers, infpired the court with
uppreheimons.
The earl of Shrewfbury, moved by his regard for the
king's fervice, raifed forces, though at fir ft without any
commimor., in order to oppofe the rebels. The earl of
Cumberland repulied them from his caftle of Skipton :
Sir Ralph Evers defended S car borow- caftle againft them d:
Courtney, marquis of Exeter, the king's coufin-german^
obeyed orders from court, and levied troops. The earls
of Huntingdon, Perby,and
Rutland,imitated his ex-
ample. The rebels, however, prevailed in taking both
Hull and York : They had laid fiege to Pomfret caftle,
into which jhe archbifhop of York and lord Darcy had
thrown themfelves. It was foon furrendered to them ;
and the prelate and nobleman, who fecretly wifhed fuc-
cefs to the infurredtion, feemed to yield to the force im-
pofed on them 3 and joined the rebels.
The duke of Norfolk was appointed general of the
king's forces againft the northern rebels ; and as he headed
the party at court, which fupported the ancient religion,
he was alfo fufpe&ed of bearing fome favour to the caufe,
which he was fent to oppofe. His prudent conduct
c Fox, vol. iii p. 992*d Stowe, p. 574, Baker, p. 15?.
however^
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 187/481
HENRY Vlir. 173
however, feems to acquit him of this imputation. He c\\-}
P.
encamped near Doncafter, together With the earl of\J, ',.t
Shrewsbury; and as his army was fmall, fcarcely exceed- *$&ino- five thoufand men, he made choice of a pdft, where
he had a river in front, the ford of which he purpofed to
defend aeainft the rebels, They had intended to attack
him in the morning ;but during the night, there fell
fuch violent rains as rendered the river utterly unpayable;
and Norfolk wifelylaid hold of the
opportunityto enter
into treaty with them. In order to open the door for ne-
o-ociation, he fent them a herald 5 whom Afke, their
leader, received with great ceremony; he himfelf fitting
in a chair of ftate, with the archbifhop of York on one
hand, and lord Darcy on the other. It was agreed, that
two gentlemen mould be difpatched to the king with pro-
pofals from the rebels ; and Henry purpofely delayed giving
an anfwer, and allured them with hopes of entire fatisfae-
tion, in expectation that neceflity would fcon oblige
them to difperfe themfelves. Being informed, that his
artifice had, in a great meafure, fucceeded, he required
them inflantly to lay down their arms and fubmit to
mercy ; promifinga
pardonto all
exceptfix whom he
named, and four whom he referved to himfelf the powerof naming. But though the greater part of the rebels
had gone home for want of fubfiftence, they had entered
into the moft folemn engagements to return to their
ftandards, in cafe the king's anfwer fhould not prove fa-
tisfactory. Norfolk, therefore, foon found himfelf in
the fame difficulty as before; and he opened again a ne-
gociation with the leaders of the multitude. He engagedthem to fend three hundred perfons to Doncafter, with
propofals for an accommodation ; and he hoped, by in-
trigue and feparate interefts, to throw d indention amongfo great a number. Afke himfelf had incended to be one
of the deputies, and he required a hoffoge for his fecurity :
But
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 188/481
i 7 4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP. B u t the kine, when confulted, replied, that he knew no
XXXI. .
^^_ \ gentleman or other, whom he efleemed fo little as to put
*53^* him inpledge
for fuch a villain. The demands of the
rebels were fo exorbitant, that Norfolk rejected them ;
and they prepared again to decide the conteft by arms.
They were as formidable as ever both by their num-
bers and fpirit ; and notwithstanding the fmall river,
which lay between them and the royal army, Norfolk
had great reafon to dread the effects of their fury. But
while they were preparing to pafs the ford, rain fell a
fecond time in fuch abundance, as made it impracticable
for them to execute their defign ; and the populace,
partly reduced to neceflity by want of provifions, partly
ftruck with fuperftition at being thus again difappointed
by the fame accident, fuddenly difperfed themfelves. The
duke of Norfolk, who had received powersfor that end
2
forwarded the difperfion, by the promife of a general am-
§th Dec.nefty ; and the king ratified this act of clemency. He
publifhed, however, a manifefto againit the rebels, and an
anfwer to their complaints ; in which he employed a very
lofty ftyle,fuited to fo haughty a monarch. He told
them, that they ought no more to pretend giving a judge-
ment with regard to government, than a blind man with
regard to colours :" And we," he addedj
" with oui:
" whole council, think it right ftrange, that ye, who" be but brutes and inexpert folk, do take upon you to"
"appoint us, who be meet or not for our council."
As this pacification was not likely to be of long conti-
nuance, Norfolk was ordered to keep his army together,
and to march into the northern parts, in order to exact a
general fubmiffion. Lord Darcy, as Well as Afke, was
fent for to court ; and the former, upon his refufal or
delay to appear, was thrown into prifon. Every place
was full of jealoufy and complaints. A new infurrectiort
broke out, headedby
Mufgrave and Tilby j arid the re-
bels
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 189/481
HENRY VIII. 175
Jbels befieged Carlifle with 8000 men. Being repulfed byC
^X ^ I
P '
that city, they were encountered in their retreat by Nor-
folk, who put them to flight ; and having made prifoncrs'537
of all their officers, except Mufgrave, who efcapcd, he
inftantly put them to death by martial law, to the number
of feventy perfons. An attempt, made by Sir Francis
Bigot and Halam to furprize Hull, met with no better
fuccefs ; and feveral other rifings were fuppreffed by the
vigilance of Norfolk. The king, enraged by thefe mul-
tiplied revolts, was determined not to adhere to the ge-
neral pardon, which he had granted ; and from a move-
ment of his ufual violence, he made the innocent fuffer
for the guilty. Norfolk, by command from his matter,
fpread the royal banner, and, wherever he thought pro-
per, executed martial law in the punifhment of offenders.
Befides Afke,leader of the flrft
infurrection,Sir Robert
Conftable, Sir John Bulmer, Sir Thomas Piercy, Sir
Stephen Hamilton, Nicholas Tempeil, William Lumley,and many o.hers, were thrown into prifon ; and moil of
them were condemned and executed. Lord Huffey was
found guilty as an accomplice in the infurreclion of Lin-
colnfhire, and was executed at Lincoln. Lord Darcy,
though he pleaded compulfion, and appealed, for his jus-
tification, to a long life, fpent in the fervice of the crown,
was beheaded on Tower-hill. Before his execution, he
accufed Norfolk of having fecretly encouraged the rebels ;
but Henry, either fenfible of that nobleman's fervices and
convinced of his fidelity, or afraid to offend one of fuch
cxtenfive power and great capacity, rejected the infor-mation. Being now fatiated with puniihing the rebels,
he published anew a general pardon, to which he faith-
fully adhered e; and he erected by patent a court of juftice
at York, for deciding law-fuits in the northern counties :
A demand which had been made by the rebels.
« Herbert, p. 4:8.SoQtf
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 190/481
i 7 6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP.
XXXI.v i
Soon after this profperous fuccefs, an event happened,which crowned Henry's joy, the birth of a Ton, who was
M37-baptized by
the name of Edward. Yet was not hisOctober \z. .
Birth of nappineis without allay : 1 he queen died two days after f.
warTa^d^ ut a *° n ^ ac * *° * on & been ardently wifhed for by Henry;
death of Q^ and was now become fo necefTary, in order to preventJ ane *
difputes with regard to the fucceffion, after the acts de-
claring the two princefTes illegitimate, that the king'saffliction was drowned in his joy, and he exprefTed great
fatisfaclion on the occafion. The prince, not fix days
old, was created prince of Wales, duke of Gornwal, and
earl of Chefter. Sir Edward Seymour, the queen's bro-
ther, formerly made Lord Beauchamp, was raifed to the
dignity of earl of Hertford. Sir William Fitz Williams,
high admiral, was created earl of Southampton; Sir
William Paulet, Lord St. John-
} Sir John RufTel, LordRuffel.
S5 j8.The fuppreffiori of the rebellion and the birth of a fon,<
as they confirmed Henry's authority at home, encreafed
his confideration among foreign princes, and made his
alliance be courted by all parties. He maintained, how-
ever, a neutrality in the wars, which were carried on,
with various fuccefs, and without any decifive event, be-
tween Charles and Francis ; and though inclined more to
favour the latter, he determined not to incur, without
neceffity, either hazard or expence on his account. Atruce, concluded about this time between thefe potentates,
and afterwardsprolonged
for ten years, freed him from
all anxiety on account of hisally,
and re-eftablifhed the
tranquillity of Europe.
Henry continued defirous of cementing a union with
the German protectants ; and for that purpofe, he fent
Chriftopher Mount to a congrefs which they held at Brunf-
f
Strype,vol. *i. p. 5.
Kick ',
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 191/481
HENRY VIIL 177
Wick; but that minifter made no great prcgrefs in his c H A P.
_ -n i , »xxxi.
negociation. The princes wiihed to know, what were ^ _j
the articles in their confeflion which Henry difliked ; and J 53 8 «
they fent new ambafTadors to him, who had orders both
to negociate and to difpute. They endeavoured to Con-
vince the king, that he was guilty of a miftake, in ad-
miniftering the eucharift in one kind only, in allowing
private maiTes, and in requiring the celibacy of the cler-
gy g. Henry would by no means acknowledge any error
in thefe particulars; and was difpleafed that they fhould
pretend to prefcribe rules to fo great a monarch and theo-
logian. He found arguments and fyllogifms enow to de-
fend his caufe ; and he difmifTed the ambafTador without
coming to any conclufion. Jealous alfo leaft his own fub-
jeclsfhould become fuch theologians as to queftion his
tenets, he ufed great precaution in publifhing that tranf-
lation of the fcripture which was finifhed this year. Hewould only allow a copy of it to be depofited in fome
parifh churches, where it was fixed by a chain : And he
took care to inform the people by proclamation," That
" this indulgence was not the effecT. of his duty, but of
" his goodnefs and his liberality to them ; who therefore* c fhould ufe it moderately, for the encreafe of virtue, not" offtrife: And he ordered that no man fhould read the
** Bible aloud, fo as to difturb the prieft, while he fangu
mafs, nor prefume to expound doubtful places, with-u out advice from the learned.
rtIn this meafure, as
in the reft, he ftill halted half way between the catholics
and the proteftants.
There was only one particular, in which Henry was
quitedecifive; becaufehe was there impelled by his avarice,
or more properly fpeaking, his rapacity, the confequence
of his profufion : This meafure was the entire deftruction SuDpreflSon
of the monafteries. The prefent opportunity feemed ^'ll^^i^''
terics.< Collier, vol. ii. p, 145. from the Cott. Lib, Cleopatra, E. 5. fol. 173.
Vol. IV. N vourable
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 192/481
i ;8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap vourable for that great enterprize, while the fuppreflion
d-^-LL- of the late rebellion fortified and encreafed the royal au-
l
5i%' tbority; and as fome of the abbots were fufpected of
having encouraged the infurrection, and of correfponding
with the rebels, the king's refentment was farther incited
by that motive. A new vifitaticn was appointed of all
the monafteries in England ; and a pretence only being
wanted for their fuppreflion, it was eafy for a prince, pof-
feffed of fuch unlimited power, and feconding the prefent
humour of a great part of the nation, to find or feign
one. The abbots and monks knew the danger, to which
they were expofed ; and having learned, by the example
of the leffer monafteries, that nothing could withftand the
kind's will, they were moft of them induced, in expecta-
tion of better treatment, to make a voluntary refignation
of their houfes. Where promifes failed of effect, menaces
2nd even extreme violence were employed ; and as feveral
of the abbots, fince the breach with Rome, had been
named by the court, with a view to this event, the king's
intentions were the more eafily effected. Some alfb,
having fecretly embraced the doctrine of the reformation,
were glad to be freed from their vows ; and on the wholethe defign was conducted with fuch fuccefs, that, in lefs
than two years, the king had got pofTeflion of all the mo-
naftic revenues.
In feveral places, particularly in the county of Oxford,
great intereft was made to preferve fome convents of wo-
men, who,as
theylived in the moft
irreproachable man-ner, juflly merited, it was thought, that their houfes
fhould be faved from the general deftruction h. There
appeared alfo great difference between the cafe of nuns
and that of friars; and the one inftitution might be laud-
able, while the other was expofed to much blame. Themales of all ranks, if endowed with induftry, mi^ht be
h furnct, vol.i, p. 328.
of
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 193/481
HENRY VII r. i 79
or" fcrvice to the public: and none of thern could want c H y P»XXXI
employment,fuited to his ftation and
capacity. Buta t
'
jwoman of a family, who failed of a fcttlcment in the mar- *53$«
ried ftate, an accident to which fucli perfons were more
liable than women of lower ftation, had really no rank
which file properly filled : and a convent was a retreat
both honourable and agreeable, from the inutility and
often want, which attended her fituation. But the king
was determined to abolifh monafterics of every denomi-
nation ;and probably thought, that thefe ancient efta.
biifhments would be the fooner forgotten, if no remains
of them, of any kind, were allowed to fubfift in the king-
dom.
The better to reconcile the people to this great inno-
vation, ftories were propagated of the dete liable lives ofthe friars in many of the convents j and great care was
taken to defame thofe whom the court had determined to
ruin. The reliques alfo and other fuperftifions, which
had fo long been the object of the people's veneration^ were
expofed to their ridicule ; and the religious fpirit, now
lefs bent onexterior obfervances and fenfible
objects, wasencouraged in this new direction. It is needlefs to be
prolix in an enumeration of particulars : Protectant hif-
torians mention on this occafion with great triumph the
facred repofitories of convents ; the parings of St. Ed-
mond's toes ; fome of the coals that roafted St. Laurence -
?
the girdle of the Virgin fhown in eleven feveral places ;
two or three heads of St. Urfula ; the felt of St. Thomasof Lancafter, an infallible cure for the head-ach ; part
of St. Thomas of Canterbury's fhirt, much reverenced by
bi fj--bellied women; fome reliques, an excellent preven-
tive a^ainft. rain ; others, a remedy to weeds in corn. But
fuch fooleries, as they are to be found in all ages and na-
tions, and even took place during the mod: refined pe-
riods of antiquity, form no particular or violent reproach
to the catholic religion.N 2 The]
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 194/481
-
I
180 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
y yP " There were al(b difcovered, or faid to be difcovered,
t ; in the monafteries Tome impoftures of a more artificial na-
J 5l%> ture. At Hales, in the county of Gloucefter, there hadbeen mown, during feveral ages, the blood of Chrift
brought from Jerufalem ; and it is eafy to imagine the
veneration with which fuch a relique was regarded. Amiraculous circumftance alfo attended this miraculous
relique ; the facred blood was not viable to any one in
mortal fin, even when fet beforehim;
and till he had
performed good works fufficient for his abfolution, it
would not deign to difcover itfelf to him. At the diflb-
luticn of the monafrery, the whole contrivance was de-
tecled. Two of the monks, who were let into the fe-
cret, had taken the blood of a duck, which they renewed
every week : They put it in a phial, one fide of which
confined cf thin and tranfparent chryftal, the other of
thick and opaque. When any rich pilgrim arrived, theywere fure to {how him the dark fide of the phial, till malTes
and offerings had expiated his offences ; and then finding
his money, or patience, or faith, nearly exhaufted, theymade him happy by turning the phial *.
A miraculous crucifix had been kept at Boxley in
Kent, and bore the appellation of the Rood of Grace.
The lips, and eyes, and head of the image moved on the
approach of its votaries. Hilfey, bifhop of Rochefter,
broke the crucifix at St. Paul's cro fs, and mowed to the
whole people the fprings and wheels by which it had
been fecretly moved. A great wooden idol revered in
Wales, called Darvel Gatherin, was alfo brought to Lon-
don, and cut in pieces : And by a cruel refinement in
vengeance, it was employed as fuel to burn friar Foreil k,
who was punifhed for denying the fupremacy, and for
fome pretended herefies. A finger of St. Andrew's, co-
i
Herbert, p. 41 1, 43a. Stowe, p. (75,k Goodwin's Annais* Stowe, p< 575. Herbert, Baker, p. 2S6.
vercd
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 195/481
HENRY VIII. j8i
vered with a thin plate of (liver, had been pawned by a c ** A P.XXX I •
convent for a debt of forty pounds; but as the king's> ,/ —j
commifiioners refufed to pay the debt, people made them- *53f«
{fives merry with the poor creditor, on account of his
pledge.
But of all the instruments of ancient fuperfrition, no
one was fo zealoufly deftroyed as the fhrineof Thomas a
Becket, commonly called St. Thomas of Canterbury.
This faint owed his canonization to the zealous defence,which he had made for clerical privileg s ; and on that ac-
count alfo, the monks had extremely encouraged the de-
votion of pilgrimages towards his tomb, and num beliefs
were the miracles, which, they pretended, his reliques
wrought in favour of his devout votaries. They raifed
his body once a year ; and the day on which this cere-
mony was performed, which was called the day of his
translation, was a general holiday : Every fiftieth year
there was celebrated a jubilee to his honour, which lailed
fifteen days : Plenary indulgences were then granted to
all that vifited his tomb; and a hundred thoufand pil-
grims have been regiftered at a time in Canterbury. The
devotion towards him had quite effaced in that place theadoration of the Deity: nay, even that of the Virgin.
At God's altar, for inftance, there were offered in one
year three pounds two (hillings and fix pence ; at the
Virgin's, fixty-three pounds five {hillings and fix pence ;
at St, Thomas's, eight hundred and- thirty-two pounds
twelve (hillings and three pence. But next year, the dis-
proportion was ftill greater: There was not a penny of-
fered at God's altar ; the Virgin's gained only four pounds
one (hilling and eight pence; but St. Thomas had got
for his (hare nine hundred and fifty-four pounds fix (hil-
lings and three pence!
, Lewis VII. of France had made
a pilgrimage to this miraculous tomb, and had bellowed
1 Burnet ; vol. u p. 244 >
4 N 3 on
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 196/481
i8 a HIS T OR Y OF ENGL AND.C ft A P. on tne fnrinea jewel, efleemed thericheft in Chiificndom,
yvyr J *
uJ—. J-l^ It is evident, how obnoxious to Kenry a faint of this
*S}%'character mud
appear,and how
contraryto all his
pro-jects for degrading the authority of the court of Rome.
He not only pillaged the rich fhrine, dedicated to St.
Thomas : he made the faint himfelf be cited to appear in
court, and be tried and condemned as a traitor : He or-
dered his name to be flruck out of the calendar ; the of-
fice for his fefiival tc be expunged from all breviaries ;
his bones to be burned, and the afhes to be thrown in
the ai:\
On the whole, the king, at diderent times, fuppreiTed
fix hundred and forty-five monafteries : Of which twenty-
eight had abbots, that enjoyed a feat in parliament.
Ninety colleges were demoliihed in feveral counties ; two
thoufand three hundred andfeyenty-four
chantries and
free chapels : A hundred and ten hofpitals. The whole
revenue of thefe eftablifhments amounted to one hundred
and fixty-one thoufand one hundred poundsm. It is
worthy of cbfervation, that all the lands and pofleilions
and revenue of En-land had, a little before this period,
been rated at four millions a year; io that the revenues
of the monks, even comprehending the leffer monafreries,
did not exceed the twentieth part of the national income :
A fum vaftly inferior to what is commonly apprehended.
The lands belonging to the convents, were ufually let at
very low rent; and the farmers, who regarded themfelves
as a fpecies of proprietors, took always care to renew
their Jr-afes before they expiredn
.
Great murmurs were every where excited on account
of thefe violences ; and men much quchMoned, whecher
priors and monks, who were only truftees or tenants for
life, could, by any dted^ however voluntary, transfer to
Lord Herbert, Camden, ??ee'.: > See note [I] at the
$n-J of the ?o!i
the
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 197/481
'
HENRY VIII. 183
the kin"- the entire property of their eftates. In order to C H a p.
reconcile the people to fuch mighty innovations, they were
told, that the king would never thenceforth have occ?.- i S'A'
fion to levy taxes, but would he able from the abbey lands
alone, to bear, during war as well as peace, the whole
charges of government °. While fuch topics were em-
ployed to appeafe the populace, Henry took an effectual
method of interefting the nobility and gentry in the foc-
cefs of his meafures p : He either made agift
of the re-
venues of convents to his favourites and courtiers, or fold
them at low prices, or exchanged them for other lands
on very difadvantageous terms. He was fo profufe in
thefe liberalities, that he is faid to have given a woman
the whole revenue of a convent, as a reward for making a
pudding, which happened to gratify his palate <3. He alio
fettled penfions on the abbots and priors, proportioned
to their former revenues or to their merits ; and gave each
monk a yearly penfion of eight marks : He erected fix
new bifhoprics, Weftminfter, Oxford, Peterborow, Brif-
tol, Chefter, and Gloucefter ; of which five fubfifr at this
day : And by all thefe means of expence and diffipation,
theprofit,
which theking
reapedby
the feizure of church
lands, fell much fhort of vulgar opinion. As the ruin of
convents had been forefeen fome years before it happened,
the monks had taken care to fecrete mod of their ftock,
furniture, and plate; fo that the fpoils of the great mo-
nafteries bore not, in thefe refpecls, any proportion to
thofeof the lefTer.
Beside the lands, poffeiTed by the monaftcries, the re-
gular clergy enjoyed a confiderable part of the benefices
of Enghnd, and of the tythes, annexed to them ; and
thefe were alio at this time transferred to the crown, and
by that means paffed into the hands of laymen : An abufc e
Coke's 4th Inft. fol. 44.P
Dugdalc'sWarwickshire, p. 8c o.
1 Fuller.
N 4 which
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 198/481
184 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, which many zealous churchmen regard as the moil
t
*
criminal facrilcge. The monks were formerly, much at
J53S. their eafe in England, and enjoyed revenues, which ex-ceeded the regular and ftated expence of the houfe. Weread of the abbey of Chertfey in Surrey, which poffeffed
744 pounds a year, though it contained only fourteen
monks : That of Furnefe, in the county of Lincoln, was
valued at 960 pounds a year, and contained, but thirty \
In order to difiipate their revenues, and fupport popula-
rity,the monks lived in a hofpitable manner ; and be-
fides the poor, maintained from their offals, there were
manv decayed gentlemen, who paifed their lives in tra-
velling from convent to convent, and were entirely fub-
fifted at the tables of the friars. By this hofpitality, a$
much as by their own inactivity, did the convents prove
nurfei ies of idlenefs ; butthe
king,not to
give offence
by too fudden an innovation, bound the new proprietors
of abbey lands, to fupport the ancient hofpitality. But
this engagement was fulfilled in very few places, and for
a very fhort time.
It is eafy to imagine the indignation, with which the
intellioence of all thefe acts of violence was received at
Rome ; and how much the ecclefiaftics of that court, who
bad fo lone; kept the world in fubje&ion by high founding
epithets, and by holy execrations, would now vent their
rhetoric againft the character and conduct: of Henry. The
pope was at laft incited to publifh the bull, which had
been paifed againft that monarch ; and in a public man-
ner he delivered overhis foul to the
devil,and his domi-
nions to the firft invader. Libels were difperfed, in
which he was anew compared to the moft furious perse-
cutors in antiquity-
3 and the preference was now given
to their fide : He had declared war with the dead, whom
the pagans themfelves refpecled-
} was at open hoftility
r Burnet, vol. i. p. 237.
with
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 199/481
HENRY VIII. 185
with heaven; and had engaged in profeffed enmity w5t h C^ x £j
P '
the whole hod of faints and angels. Above all, he was *
e»
often reproached with his refemblance to the emperor *S3*«
Julian, whom, it was faid, he imitated in his apoftacy
and learning, though he fell fhort of him in morals.
Henry could diftinguifh in fome of thefe libels the ftile
and animofity of his kinfman, Pole ; and he was thence
incited to vent his rage, by every pofiible expedient, on
that famous cardinal.Reginald de la Pole, or Reginald Pole, was de- Cardinal
fcended from the royal family, being fourth fon of thePok "
countefs of Salifbury, daughter of the duke of Clarence.
He gave in early youth indications of that fine -ge-
nius, and generous difpofition, by which, during his
whole life, he was fo much diftinguifhed ; and Henry,
having conceived great friendfhip for him, intended to
raife him to the higheft ecclefiaftical dignities ; and, as a
pledge of future favours, he conferred on him the deanry
of Exeter', the better to fupport him in his education.
Pole was carrying on his ftudies in the univerfity of Paris,
at the time when the king folicited the fufTrages of that
learned body in favour of his divorce ; but though ap-
plied to by the Englifh agent, he declined taking any part
in the affair. Henry bore this neglect with more temper
than was natural to him ; and he appeared unwilling, on
that account, to renounce all friendfhip with a perfon,
whofe virtues and talents, he hoped, would prove ufeful,
as well as ornamental, to his court and kingdom. He al-
lowed him ftill to pofTefs his deanry, and gave him per-
mifiion to finifh his ftudies at Padua: He even paid him
fome court, in order to bring him into his meafures ; and
wrote to him, while in that univerfity, defiring him to give
his opinion fre-ly, with regard to the late meafures taken
in England, for abolifhing the papal authority. Pole had
« Goodwin's AnnaU,
now
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 200/481
i86 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,c h a P. now contracted an intimate frjendftiip with all perfonsvvvj l l
« i eminent for dignity or merit in Italy, Sadolet, Bembo, and
*53 s «
other revivers of true tafte and learning ; and he wasmoved by tihefe connections, as well as by religious zeal,
to forget, in forrie rcipect, the duty which he owed to
Henry, his benefactor, and his fovereign. He replied,
by writing a treatife of the unity of the church, in which
he inveighed againft the king's fupremacy, his divorce,
his fecond marriage; and he even exhorted the emperor
to revenge on him the injury done to the Imperial family,
and to the catholic caufe. Henry, though provoked be-
vond fneafure at this outrage, diflembled his refentment ;
and he lent a meiTage to Pole, defiring him to return to
England, in order to explain certain pafiages in his book,
which he found fomewhat obfeure and difficult. Pole
was on his guard again ft this infidious invitation ; and wasdetermined to remain in Italy, where he was univerfally
beloved.
The pope and emperor thought themfelves obliged to
provide for a man of Pole's eminence and dignity, who,in fupport of their caufe, had facrificed all his pretenfions
to fortune -in his own country. He was created a cardi-
rial : and though he took not higher orders than thofe of
a deacon, he was fent legate into Flanders about the year
I 5 26 r. Henry was fcnfible, that Pole's chief intention
in ch tiling that employment, was to foment the mutinous
difpontion of the Englifh catholics; and he therefore re-
monitrate'd in fo vigorous a manner with the queen of
Hungary, regent of the Low Countries, that (he di unified
the legate, without allowing him to exercife his functions.
The enmity, which he bore to Pole, was now as open,
as it waS violent; and the cardinal, on his part, kept no
farther meafures in his intrigues againft Henry. He is
even fufpected of having afpired to the crown, by means
t Herbert.
of
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 201/481
HENRY VIII. iS i
pf a marriage with the lady Mary ;and the king was c W A P.
every day more alarmed by informations, which he re-v ,
ceived, of the correfpondence maintained in England by J 53 5 «
that fugitive. Courtney, marquis of Exeter, had entered
into a confprracy with him ; Sir Edward Ncvil, brother
to the lord Abergavenny, Sir Nicholas Carcw, matter of
horfe, and knight of the garter ; Kenry de la Pole, lord
Montacute, and Sir Geoffrey de la Pole, brothers to the
cardinal. Thefe perfonswere
indicted,and
tried,and
convicted, before lord Audley, who prefided in the trial,
as high fleward, they were all executed, except Sir
Geoffrey de la Pole, who was pardoned ; and he owed
this grace to his having fir ft carried to the king fecret in-
telligence of the confpiracy. We know little concerning
the juftice or iniquity of the fentence pronounced againit
thefe men : We only know, that the condemnation of a
man, who was, at that time, profecuted by the court,
forms no prefumption of his guilt ; though, as no hiilo-
rian of credit mentions, in the prefent cafe, any com-
plaint occafioned by thefe trials, we may prefumc, that
lufEcient evidence was produced againfl the marquis of
Exeter, and his aftbeiates ".
H Herbert in Rennet, p.. 216.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 202/481
i88 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
CHAP. XXXII.
Difputation with Lambert A Parliament
Law cf the fix articles Proclamations made
equal to laws Settlement of the fucceffion——
King's projects of marriage He marries Anne
of Cleves He diflikes her A Parliament
•>. Fall of Cromwel His execution King's
divorce from Anne cf Cleves His marriage
with Catherine Howard State of affairs in
Scotland Difcovery of the Queen's diffolute lift
—AParliament Ecclefiaftical affairs.
C H A P.HpHE rough hand of Henry Teemed well adapted for
XXXII. J^ rending afunder thofe bands, by which the an-
j 53 S. cient fuperftition had fattened itfelf on the kingdom ;
and though, after renouncing the pope's fupremacy and
fupprefling monafteries, moft of the political ends of
reformation were already attained, (ew people expected
that he would flop at thofe innovations. The fpirit of
oppofition, it was thought, would carry him to the ut-
moft extremities againft the church of Rome ; and lead him
to declare war againft the whole doctrine and worfhip,
as well as difcipline, of that mighty hierarchy. He had
formerly appealedfrom the
popeto a
generalcouncil ;
but now, when a general council was fummoned to
meet at Mantua, he previoufly renounced all fubmiflion
to it, as fummoned by the pope, and lying entirely
under fubjection to that fpiritual ufurper. He engaged
his clergy to make a declaration to the like purpofe j and
he had prefcribed to them many other deviations from
ancient tenets and practices. Cranmer took advantageof
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 203/481
HENRY VIII. 189
of every opportunity to carry him on in this courfe ; and chap.while
queen Janelived, who favoured the reformers, he ,
*_.
had, by means of her infinuation and addrefs, been fuc- 1538.
cefsful in his endeavours. After her death, Gardiner,
who v/as returned from his cmbafTy to France, kept the
king more in fufpence ; and by feigning an unlimited
fubmiflion to his will, was frequently able to guide
him to his own purpofes. Fox, bifhop of Hereford, had
fupported Cranmer in his fchemes for a more thorough
reformation ; but his death had made v/ay for the promo-
tion of Bonner, who, though he had hitherto feemed a
furious enemy to the court of Rome, was determined to
facrifice every thing to prefent intereft, and had joined
the confederacy of Gardiner, and the partizans of the
oldreligion.
Gardiner himfelf, it is believed, had
fecretly entered into meafures with the pope, and even
with the emperor ; and in concert with thefe powers,
he endeavoured to preferve, as much as poflible, the an*
cient faith and worfhip.
Henry was fo much governed by paflion, that no-
thing could have retarded his animofity and oppofition
againft Rome, but fome other paflion, which flopped his
career, and raifed him new objects of animofity. Thoughhe had gradually, fince the commencement of his fcruples
with regard to his firft marriage, been changing the tenets
of that theological fyflem, in which he had been educated,
he was no lefs pofitive and dogmatical in the few articles
which remained to him, than if the whole fabric had con-
tinued entire and unfhaken. And though he flood alone
in his opinion, the flattery of courtiers had fo enflamed his
tyrannical arrogance, that he thought himfelf entitled to
regulate, by his own particular flandard, the religious
faith of the whole nation. The point, on which he chiefly
reded his orthodoxy, happened to be the real prefence ;
that very doctrine, in which, among the numberlefs victo-
ries of fuperflition over common fenfe, her triumph is the
mod
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 204/481
I()0 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H a P. mod fi~nal and CQ-rco-jbus. All departure from this prin-
XXXII. °•
.•
.
^'
'_j ciple he held to be heretical and deteftablc ; and nothings
J538. he thought, would be more honourable for him, than
while he broke oft all connexions with the Roman pon-
tiff, to maintain, in this eiTential article, the purity of
the catholic faith.
Difputation There was one Lambert w, a fchool-mafler in Lon-
with Lam-j W Q ^ a(
j ^en q ue ft; oriec l anc } confined for unfound
©pinions by archbiihopWarham ;
but, uponthe death
of that prelate, and the change of counfels at court,
he had been releafed. Not terrified with the danger
which he had incurred, he {till continued to promulgatehis tenets ; and having heard Dr. Taylor, afterwards
bimop of Lincoln, defend in a fermon the corporal pre-
fence, he could not forbear expreffing to Taylor his
difTent from that doctrine ; and he drew up his objections
under ten feveral heads. Taylor communicated the-
paper to Dr. Barnes, who happened to be a Lutheran,
and who maintained that though the fubilance of bread
and wine remained in the facrament, yet the real bodyand blood of Chrift were there alfo, and were, in a cer-
tain myfterious manner, incorporated with the materialelements. By the prefent laws and practice Barnes was
no lefs expofed to the ftake than Lambert j yet fuch was
the perfecuting rage which prevailed, that he determined
to bring this man to condign punifhment ; becaufe,
in their common departure from the ancient faith, he
had dared to go one flep farther than himfelf. He en-
gaged Taylor to accufe Lambert before Cranmer and
Latimer, who, whatever their private opinion might be
on thefe points, were obliged to conform themfelves to
the ftandard of orthodoxy, eitabliihed by Henry. WhenLambert was cited before thefe prelates, they endeavoured
to bend him to a recantation ; and they were furprited^
w Fox, vol. ii.p. 396.
whenj
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 205/481
H E N R Y VIII. ioi
when, inftead of complying, he ventured to appeal to c « A «\
. , :J ri
xxxii.the king. , ,
The king, not difpleafed with an opportunity, where »S3 8 «
he could at once exert his fupremacy, and difplay his
learning, accepted the appeal ; and refolved to mix, in
a very unfair manner, the magiftrate with the difputant.
Public notice was given, that he intended to enter the
lifts with the fchoolmafler : Scaffolds were erected in
Weitminfter-hall, for the accommodation of the au-dience : Henry appeared on his throne, accompaniedwith all the enfigns of majefty : The prelates were pla-
ced on his right hand : The temporal peers on his left,
The judges and moft eminent lawyers had a place af-
figned them behind the bifhops : The courtiers of great-er!: diftinclion behind the peers : And in the midft of this
fplendid afTembly was produced the unhappy Lambert,who was required to defend his opinions againit his royal
antagonistx
.
The bifhop of Chichefter opened the conference, byfaying, that Lambert, being charged with heretical
pravity, had appealed from his bifhop to the king ; as if
he expected more favour from this application, and as ifthe king could ever be induced to protect: a heretic :
That though his majefty had thrown off the ufurpationsof the fee of Rome ; had difincorporated fome idle
monks, who lived like drones in a bee-hive; had abo-
lifhed the idolatrous worfhip of images ; had publifhedthe bible in Englifh, for the inftruction of all his fub-
jects ; and had made fome lefler alterations, which everyone muft approve of; yet was he determined to maintain
the purity of the catholic faith, and to punifh with the
utmoft feverity all departure from it : And that he had
taken the prefent opportunity, before fo learned and
grave an audience, of convincing Lambert of his errors ;
xFox, vol. ii. p. 426,
2 but
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 206/481
I9 z HISTORY OF feNGLAND.CHAP, but if he ftill continued obftinate in them, he mufl ex-
XXXII.«J v 1; peel the mofl condign punifhment v.
*53 8 -
After this preamble, which was not very encourag*
ing, the king afked Lambert, with a ftern countenance*
what his opinion was of ChrifVs corporal prefence in the
facrament of the altar ; and when Lambert began his
reply with fome compliment to his majefty, he rejectedthe praife with difdain and indignation. He afterwards
prefledLambert with
arguments,drawn from
Scriptureand the fchoolmen : The audience applauaed the force
of his reafoning, and the extent of his erudition : Cran-
mer feconded his proofs by fome new topics : Gardiner
entered the lifts as a fupport to Cranmer : Tonftal took
up the argument after Gardiner: Stokefley brought frefh
aid to Tonftal : Six bifhops more appeared fucceflively in
the field after Stokefley. And the difputation, if it de-
ferve the name, was prolonged for five hours ; till Lam-
berr, fatigued, confounded, brow-beaten, and abafhed,
was at laft reduced to filence. The king, then returning
to the charge* afked him whether he were convinced ?
and he propofed, as a concluding argument, this intereft-
ing queftion,Whether he were refolved to live or
to die?
Lambert, who pofTefied that courage which confifts in
obftinacy, replied, that he caft himfelf wholly on his
majefty's clemency : The king told him, that he would
be no protector of heretics ; and therefore, if that were
his final anfwer, he mull: expec~t to be committed to the
flames. Cromwel, as vicegerent, pronounced the fen-
tence againft him *.
Lambert, whofe vanity had probably incited him
the more to perfevere on account of the greatnefs of this
public appearance, was not daunted by the terrors of
the punifhment, to which he was condemned. His ex-
ecutioners took care to make the furTcrings of a man who
y Goodwin's Annals. * See note [K] at the end of the volume.
4 had
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 207/481
HENRY VIII. 193
liad perfonally oppofed the king, as cruel as poffible : He cx"^*
p *
was burned at a flow lire ; his legs and thighs were con-^__ Nr _L»
fumed to the flumps ; and when there appeared no end »5i s «
of his torments, fome of the guards, more merciful than
the reft, lifted him on their halberts, and threw him into
the flames, where he was confumed. While they were
employed in this friendly office, he cried aloud feveral
times, None but Chriji^ none but Chrijl ; and thefe words
were in his mouth when heexpired
3.
Some few days before this execution, four Dutch ana-
"baptifts, three men and a woman, had faggots tied to
their backs at Paul's Crofs, and were burned in that
manner. And a man and a woman of the fame feet and
country were burned in Smithfield b.
It was the unhappy fate of the Englifb, during *$$9*
this age, that, when they laboured under any grievance,
they had not the fatisfaction of expecting redrefs from
parliament : On the contrary, they had reafon to dread
each meeting of that aiTembly, and were then fure of
having tyranny converted into law, and aggravated,
perhaps,with fome
circumftance,which the
arbitrary
prince and his minifters had not hitherto devifed, or did
not think proper, of themfelves, to carry into execution.
This abject fervility never appeared more confpicuoufly a pari!*.
than in a new parliament, which the king now aflembled, "g^AitfiLand which, if he had been (o pleafed, might have been the
laft that ever fat in England. But he found them too
ufeful inftruments of dominion, ever to entertain thoughts
of giving them a total exclufion.
The chancellor opened the parliament by informingthe houfe of lords, that it was his maj city's earneft de-
fire to extirpate from his kingdom all diverfity of opinion
in matters of religion ; and as this undertaking was, he
a Fox's A&s and Monuments, p. 417. Burnet. fr Stowe, p. 556.
Vol. IV. O owned,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 208/481
194- HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H
,,A p * owned, important and ard-ous, he defired them to chufe
yCX A. t'
•
v —., >a committee from among themfelves, who might draw upT 539« certain articles of faith, and communicate them afterwards
to the parliament. The lords named the vicar-general,
Cromwel, now created a peer, the archbifhops of Canter-
bury and York, the bifhops of Durham, Carlifle, Wor-cefier, Bath and Wells, Bangor, and Ely. The houfe
might have feen what a hopeful tafk they had undertaken :
This fmall committee itfelf was agitated with fuch diver-
fity of opinion, that it could come to no conclufion.
The duke of Norfolk then moved in the houfe, that,
fince there were no hopes of having a report from the
committee, the articles of faith, intended to be eftablim-
ed, fhould be reduced to fix ; and a new committee be
appointed to draw an act with regard to them. As this
peer wasunderftood to
fpeakthe fenfe of the
king,his
motion was immediately complied with ; and, after a
fhort prorogation, the bill of thejix articles, or the bloody
bill, as the proteffcmts juftly termed it, was introduced, and
having paiTed the two houfes, received the royal afTent.
Law of the j N t"
n \ s ] aW) the dbcirine of the real prefence was efta-
blifhed, the communion in one kind, the perpetual obli-
gation of vows ofchaftity, the utility of private mafics,.
the celibacy of the clergy, and the neceflity of auricular
confef&on. The denial of the firfr, article, with regard
to the real prefence, fubjecled the perfon to death by fire,
and to the fame forfeiture as in cafes of treafon ; and
admitted not the privilege of abjuring : An unheard-of
feverity, and unknown to the inquifition itfelf. Thedenial of any cf the other five articles, even though re-
canted, was punifhable by the forfeiture of goods and
chattels, and imprifonment during the king's pleafure :
An obftinate adherence to error, or a relapfe, was ad-
judged to be felony, and punifhable with death. The
marriageof
prieilswas
fubjectedto the fame
punifn-ment.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 209/481
HENRY VIII. 195
frient. Their commerce with women was, on the firfl: c ^ AP;
.i r 1
XXII.
offence, forfeiture and imprifonment ; on the fecond,v wt
death. The abstaining from confeflion, and from re- *s.'9«
ceiving the eucharift at the accuftomed times, fubjected
the perfon to fine, and to imprifonment during the king's
pleafure ; and if the criminal perfevered after conviction,
he was punimable by death and forfeiture, as in cafes of
felonyc
. Commiffioners were to be appointed by the kingj
forenquiring
into thefe herefies andirregular practices
5
and the criminals were to be tried by a jury.
The king, in framing this law, laid his opprefTive
hand on both parties ; and even the catholics had reafon
to complain, that the friars and nuns, though difmifFed
their convent, fhould be capriciouily reftrained to the
practice of celibacyd
: But as the proteilants were chiefly
expofed to the feverity of the flatute, the mifery of ad-
verfaries> according to the ufual maxims of party, was re-
garded by the adherents to the ancient religion, as their
own profperity and triumph. Cranmer had the courageto oppofe this bill in the hcufe ; and though the kingdefned him to abfent himfelf, he could not be prevailed
on to give this proof of compliancee
. Kenry was ac-cuftomed to Cranmer's freedom and fmceritv : and being:
convinced of the general rectitude of his intentions, gave
him an unufual indulgence in this particular, and never
allowed even a whifper againft him. That prelate, how-
ever, was now obliged, in obedience to the flatute, to
difmifs his wife, the niece of Ofiander, a famous divine
of Nuremburgf
; and Henry, fatisfied with this proof
of fubmiilion, fhowed him his former countenance znd
favour. Latimer and Shaxton threw up their bifhoprics
on account of the law, and were committed to prifon.
c 31 Hen. VIU. c. 14.. Herbert in Kennet, p. 1 19.d Pee note
L] at the end of the volume. eFurnet, vol. i. p, 249, zyo. Fox,
10I, ii. p. 1037, f Herbert in Kenner, p. 219.
O 2 The
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 210/481
196 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CJLf^ p * The parliament, having thus refigned all their reli-AAA Lie
«v -ofo"* liberties, proceeded to an entire furrender of their
FIS 5S9« civil ; and without fcrunle or deliberation they made by
ticmesaic one act a total fubvcrfion of the Englifh constitution,
laws!** They gave to the king's proclamation the fame force as
to a ftatute enacted by parliament y and to render the
matter worfe, if poflible, they framed this law, as if it
were only declaratory, and were intended to explain the
natural extent ofroyal authority.
Thepreamble
con-
tains, that the king had formerly fet forth feveral pro-
clamations which froward perfons had wilfully contemn-
ed, not confidering what a king by his royal power maydo ; that this licence might encourage offenders not onlyto difobey the laws of Almighty God, but alfo to dif-
honour the king's moll royal majefty, who may full ill
bear it ; that fudden emergencies often occur, which re-
quire fpeedy remedies, and cannot await the flow af-
fembling and deliberations of parliament ; and that,
though the king was empowered, by his authority, de-
rived from God, to confult the public good on thefe oc-
cafions, yet the oppofition of refractory fubjects might
pufti him to extremity and violence:
For thefe reafons,the parliament, that they might remove all occafion of
doubt, afcertained by a ftatute this prerogative of the
crown, and enabled his majefty, with the advice of his
council, to fet forth proclamations, enjoining obedience
under whatever pains and penalties he fhould think pro-
per : And thefe proclamations were to have the force of
perpetual laws s.
What proves either a ftupid or a wilful blindnefs in
the parliament is, that they pretended, even after this
ffcatute, to maintain fome limitations in the government ;
and they enacted, that no proclamation fhould deprive
any perfon of his lawful pofleilicns, liberties, inherit-
£ 31 Hen. VIII, c. g,
ances~
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 211/481
HENRY VIII. 197
ances, privileges, franch'Tes ; nor yet infringe any com- CXx^i
P *
monlaw or laudable cuftom of the realm.
Theydid*
t/
*
not confider, that no penalty could be inflicted on the * 539,
difobeying of proclamations, without invading fome li-
berty or property of the fubjecl ; and that the power of
enacting new laws, joined to the difpenfjng power, then
exercifed by the crown, amounted to a lull legiflative
authority. It is true, the kings of England had always
been accuftomed, from their own authority, to ifiue pro-
clamations, and to exact obedience to them ; and this
prerogative was, no doubt, a ftrong fymptom of abfo-
lute government : But ftill there was a difference be-
tween a power, which was exercifed on a particular
emergence, and which muft be juftified by the prefent
expedienceor
neceffity ;and an
authorityconferred
bya
pofitive ftatute, which could no longer admit of controul
or limitation.
Could any act be more oppofite to the fpiritof liberty
than this law, it would have been another of the fame
parliament. They paffed an act of attainder, not only
againft the marquis of Exeter, the lords Montacute,
Darcy, Hurley, and others, who had been legally tried
and condemned ; but alfo againft fome perfons, of the
higheft quality, who had never been accufed, or exa-
mined, or convicted. The violent hatred, which Henrybore to cardinal Pole, had extended itfelf to all his friends
and relations ; and his mother in particular, the countefs
of Salifbury, had, on that account, "become extremelyobnoxious to him. She was alfo accufed of havino- em-
t>
ployed her authority with her tenants, to hinder them
Jfrom reading the new tranflation of the Bible; of having
procured bulls from Rome, which, it is faid, had been kenat Coudray, her country feat
; and of havino- kept a
correfpondence with her fon, the cardinal : But Henryfound, either that thefe offences could not be proved,
V 3 ©r
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 212/481
j 9 S HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
°xxxP ' or that they would not by law be fubje&ed to fuch fevere
t
v /punifhmentsas hedefired to inflict upon her. He refolv-
J 533' ed, therefore, to proceed in a more fummary and more
tyrannical manner ; and for that purpofe, he fent Crom-
welj who was but too obfequious to his will, to afk
the judges, whether the parliament could attaint a per-
fen, who was forth -coming, without giving him anytrial, or citing him to appear before them h
? The judges
replied, that it was a dangerous queftion, and that the
hio-h court of parliament owzht to e;ive the example to in-
ferior courts, of proceeding according to juftice : No in-
ferior court could act in that arbitrary manner, and they
thought that the parliament never would. Being prefTed
to <;ive a more explicit anfwer, they replied, that, if a
perfon were attaintedin that
manner,the attainder could
never afterwards be brought in queftion, but mull: remain
good in law. Henry learned by this decifion, that fuch
a method of proceeding, though directly contrary to all
the principles of equity, was yet practicable ; and this
beino- all he was anxious to know, he refolved to employ
it ao-ainft the ccuntefs of Salisbury. Cromwel fhowed to
the houfe of peers a banner, on which were embroider-
ed the five wTounds of Chrift, the fymbol, chofen by the
northern rebels ; and this banner, he affirmed, was found
in the countefs's houfe *, No other proof feems to have
been produced, in order to afcertain her guilt : The
parliament, without farther enquiry, palled a bill of
attainder againft her ; and they involved in the fame bill,
without any better proof, as far as appears, Gertrude
marchionefs of Exeter, Sir Adrian Fortefcue, and Sir
Thomas Dingley. Thefe two gentlemen were executed 2
The marchionefs was pardoned, and furvived the king $
the countefs received a reprieve.
k Coke's 4th Iaft. p. 37, 3-. ' Rymer, vol, xiv. p. 652.
1 Th$
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 213/481
HENRY VIII. 199
The only beneficial act, prided this feffion, was that c " ATT
P *
J XaaII.
by which tne parliament confirmedthe Surrender of the v
v1
monafteries ; yet even this act contains much falfe- 1 529«
hood, much tyranny, and were it not that all private
rights muft fubmit to public intcreft, much injuftice
2nd iniquity. The fcheme of engaging the abbots to
furrender their monafteries had been conducted, as may
eafily be imagined, witn many invidious circumflances :
Arts of all kinds had been employed ; every motive,
that could work on the frailty of human nature, had
been fet before them ; and it was with great difficulty
that thefe dignified conventuals were brought to make
a conceflion, which moft of them regarded as destructive
of their interefts, as well as facrilegious and criminal in
itfelf k . Three abbots had flrown more conftancy than
the reft, the abbots of Colchefter, Reading, and Glaflen-
bury , and in order to punifli them for their oppofition, .
and make them an example to others, means had been
found to convict them of treafon ; they had perifned bythe hands of the executioner, and the revenue of the .
convents had been forfeited K Befides,though
none of
thefe violences had taken place, the king knew, that a
furrender made by men, who were only tenants for life,
would not bear examination ; and he was therefore re-
jblved to make all fure by his ufual expedient, an act of
parliament- In the preamble to this act, the parliament
afferts, that all the furrenders, made by the abbots, had
been, " without confiraint, of their own accord, and" according to due courfe of common law." And in
confequence, the two houfes confirm the furrenders,
and lecure the property of the abbey lands to the king
and his fucceflors for ever m. It is remarkable, that
all the mitred abbots frill fat in the houfe of peers ;
k Collier, vol. ii, p. 158, & fe<j.1
31 Ken. VIII. c, 10. m 3- Hen.
VIII, c. 13.
O 4 and
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 214/481
>>o3 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
xxXiiP# an( * l ^ at none °^ t ^ em mac ^ e an y P rote ^ s againft this
i— v ./injurious ftatute.
^539. I N this feffion, the rank of all the great officers of ftatc
was fixed : Cromwel, as vicegerent, had the precedencyaligned him above all of them. It was thought lingu-
lar, that a blackfmith's fon, for he was no other, fhould
have place next the royal family; and that a man, pof-fefTed of no manner of literature, (hould be fet at the
headof the
church.As foon as the act of the fix articles had paffed, the
catholics were extremely vigilant in informing againftoffenders ; and no lefs than five hundred perfons were in
a little time thrown into prifon. But Cromwel, whohad not had intereft to prevent that act, was able, for
the prefent, to elude its execution. Seconded by the
duke of Suffolk, and chancellor Audley, as well as byCranmer, he remonftrated againft the cruelty of punifh-
ing fo many delinquents ; and he obtained permiflianto fet them at liberty. The uncertainty of the king'shumour gave each party an opportunity of triumphingin his turn. No fooner had Henry paffed this law,
which feemed to inflict fo deep a wound on the refor-
mer::, than he granted a general permiffion, for everyone tp have the new tranflation of the Bible in his fa-
mily : A conceflion regarded by that party, as an im-
portant victory.
Henry'sBut as Kenr y was obferved to be much governed hy
project; of his wives, while he retained his fondnefs for them, the
final prevalence of either party feemed much to dependon the choice of the future queen. Immediately after
the death of Jane Seymour, the moft beloved of all his
wives, he began to think of a new marriage. He fir ft
paft his eye towards the dutches-dowager of Milan,niece to the emperor; and he made propofals for that
alliance. But meeting with difficulties, he was carried,
by
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 215/481
HENRY VIII. 20t
by his friendfliip for Francis, rather to think of a French c " a p .
princefs.He demanded the
dutchefs-dowagerof Lon-
•——'
gueville, daughter of the duke of Guife, a prince of the J 539«
houfe of Lorraine; but Francis told him, that the lady-
was already betrothed to the king of Scotland. The
kins;, however, would not take a refufal : He had fet
his heart extremely on the match : The information,
which he had received, of the dutcnefs's accomplifhments
and beauty, had prepoffeffed him in her favour ; and hav-
ing privately fent over Meautys to examine her perfon,
and get certain intelligence of her conduct, the accounts,
which that agent brought him, ferved farther to inflame
his defires. He learned, that {he was big made; and he
thought her, on that account, the more proper match for
him., who was now become fomewhat corpulent. Thepleafure too of mortifying his nephew, whom he did not
love, was a farther incitement to his profecution of this
match ; and he infifted, that Francis fhould give him the
preference to the king of Scots. But Francis, thoughfenfible that the alliance of England was of much greater
importance to his interefts, would not affront his friend
and ally; and to prevent farther folicitation, he imme-
diately fent the princefs to Scotland. Not to (hock, how-
ever, Henry's humour, Francis made him an offer of
Mary of Bourbon, daughter of the duke of Vendome ;
but as the king was inf< rmed, that James had formerly
rejecled this princefs, he would not hear any farther of
fuch a propofal. The French monarch then offered himthe choice of the two younger fifters of the queen of
Scots ;and he affured him, that they were nowife inferior
either in merit or iize to their eider fitter, and that one of
them was even fuperior in beauty. The king was as
fcrupulous with regard to the perfon of his wives, as if
his heart had been really fufceptible of a delicate paiiion j
and he was unwilling to truft any relations, or even pic-
tures,
8
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 216/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 217/481
HENRY VIII. 203
tations, which he had received : He fwore (he was a greatc " A P.
Flanders-mare; and declared, that he never could pof-v ,*
fibly bear her any affec"tion. The matter was worfe,, S39«
when he found, that fhe could fpeak no language but
Dutch, of which he was entirely ignorant; and that the
charms of her converfation were not likely to compenfate
for the homelinefs of her perfon. He returned to Green- DMikesher.
wich very melancholy ;and he much lamented his hard
fate to Cromwel, as well as to Lord Ruffe], Sir Anthony
Brown, and Sir Anthony Denny. This lall gentleman,
in order to give him comfort, told him, that his misfor-
tune was common to him with all kings, who could not,
like private perfons, chufe for them felves ; but mu ft re-
ceive their wives from thej udgment and fancy of others.
It was the fubjecl: of debate among the king's coun-
fellors, whether the marriage could not yet be difTolved;
and the princefs be fent back to her own country. Hen-
ry's fituation feemed at that time very critical. After the
ten years' truce, concluded between the emperor and the
king of France, a good underftanding was thought to
have taken place between thefe rival monarchs ; and fuchmarks of union appeared, as gave great jealoufy to the
court of England. The emperor, who knew the gene-
rous nature of Francis, even put a confidence in him,
which is rare, to that degree, among great princes. Aninfurreclion had been raifed in the Low-Countries by the
inhabitants of Ghent, and feenrd to threaten the moft
dangerous confequences. Charles, who refided at that
time in Spain, refolved to go in perfon to Flanders, in
order to appeafe thofe diforders ; but he found great diffi-
culties in chufing the manner of his pafllng thither. Theroad by Italy and Germany was tedious : The voyage
through the Channel dangerous, by reafon of the EnglitTi
naval power : He afked Francis's permiffion to pafs thro'
his dominions ; and he entrufled himfelf into the hands
of
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 218/481
204 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C h A P. of a rival, whom he had fo mortally offended. The»
^1j French monarch received him at Paris, with great mag-
*539- nificence and courtefy j and though prompted both byrevenge and intereft, as well as by the advice of his
miftrefs and favourites, to make advantage of the prefent
opportunity, he con dueled the emperor fafely out of his
dominions ; and would not fo much as fpeak to him of
bufinefs during his abode in France, left his demands
fhould bear the air of violence upon his royal gueft.
Henry, v/ho was informed of all thefe particulars,
believed that an entire and cordial union had taken place
between thefe princes ; and that their religious zeal might
prompt them to fall with combined arms upon England .
An alliance with the German princes feemed now, more
than ever, requifite for his interefr. and fafety ; and he
knew, that, if he fent back the princefs of Cleves, fuch
an affront would be highly relented by her friends and
1540. family. He was therefore refolved, notvvithftanding his
4 January. aver {i on t0 nerj to complete the marriage; and he told
Cromwel, that, fmce matters had gone fo far, he muft
put his neck into the yoke. Cromwel, who knew how
much his own interefts were concerned in this affair,
was very anxious to learn from the king, next morningafter the marriage, whether he now liked his fpoufe anybetter. The king told him, that he hated her worfe
than ever; and that her perfon was more difgufting on a
near approach : He was refolved never to meddle with
her ; and even fufpected her not to be a true maid : Apoint, about which he entertained an extreme delicacy.
He continued, however, to be civil to Anne ; he even
feemed to repofe his ufual confidence in Cromwel ; but
though he exerted this command over himfelf, a difcon-
tent lay lurking in his breaft, and was ready to burft out
on the firft opportunity.
•Stowe, p. 579*
A SESSION
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 219/481
HENRY VIII. 205
A session of parliament was held ; and none of the Cx
"x
An
F#
abbotswere now allowed a
placein the houfe of peers, v—« v—->
The king, by the mouth of the chancellor, complained la ^5^
to the parliament of the great diverfity of religions, which a pariia-
ftill prevailed among his fubje&s : A grievance, he af-mentg
firmed, which ought the lefs to be endured ; becaufe the
Scriptures were now publifhed in Englifh, and ought
univerfally to be the ftandard of belief to all mankind.
But he had appointed, he faid, fome bifhops and divines
to draw up a lift of tenets, to which his people were to
suTent ; and he was determined, that Chrift, the doctrine
of Chrift, and the truth, fhould have the victory. The
king feems to have expected more effect in afcertaining
truth, from this new book of his doctors, than had en-
fued from the publication of the Scriptures. Cromwel,as vicar-general, made alfo in the king's name a fpeech.
to the upper houfe; and the peers, in return, beftowel
great flattery on him, and in particular faid that he was
worthy, by his defert, to be vicar-general of the univerfe.
That minifter feemed to be no lefs in his mafter's good
graces : He received, foon after the fitting of the parlia-
ment, the title of earl of Eftex, and was inftalied knight
of the garter.
There remained only one religious order in England ;
the knights of St. John of Jerufaiem, or the knights of
Malta, as they are commonly called. This order, partly
ecclefiaftical, partly military, had, by their valour, done
great fervice to Chriftendom ; and had very much retard-
ed, at Jerufaiem, Rhodes, and Malta, the rapid progrefsof the barbarians. During the general furrender of the
religious houfes in England, they had exerted their fpi-
rit, and had obftinately refufed to yield up their revenues
to the king ; and Henry, who would endure no fociety
thatprofefled
obedience to thepope,
wasobliged
to have
jecourfe to parliament for the diftblution of this order.x
Their
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 220/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 221/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 222/481
2bS HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
J?A p -
mediately after, a bill of attainder was framed againhV* i him ; and the houfe of peers thought proper, without
J
54°» trial, examination,or
evidence, to condemn to death aman, whom, a few days before, they had declared wor-
thy to be vicar-general of the univerfe. The houfe of
commons palTed the bill, though not without fome op-
polition. Cromwel was accufed of herefy and treafon ;
but the proofs of his treafonable practices are utterly
improbable, and even abfolutely ridiculous p. The onlycircumftance of his conduct, by which he feems to have
merited this fate, was his being the inftrument of the
king's tyranny, in conducting like iniquitous bills, in
the preceding feflion, againft the countefs of Salifbury
and others.
Cromwel endeavoured to foften the king by the moll
humble fupplications ; but all to no purpofe:
It was notthe practice of that prince to ruin his minifters and fa-
vourites by halves ; and though the unhappy prifoner
once wrote to him in fo moving a ftrain as even to draw
tears from his eyes, he hardened himfelf againft all move-
ments of pity, and refufed his pardon. The conclufion
of Cromwel's letter ran in thefe words :"
I, a moft wo-<c ful prifoner, am ready to fubmit to death when it fhall
"pleafe God and your majefty ; and yet the frail flefh
** incites me to call to your grace for mercy and pardon<c of mine offences. Written at the Tower with the
"heavy heart and trembling hand of your highnefs's
** moil miferable prifoner and poor flave, Thomas Crom-
M wel," And a little below, " More gracious prince,
28th July.« I cry for mercy, mercy, mercy
<
J." When brought to
the place of execution, he avoided all earneft protefta-
tions of his innocence, and all complaints againft the fen-
tence pronounced upon him. He knew, that Henry
j» Burnet, vol. i. p. 278^ 1 Burnet, vol, i. p. 381, zSa.
WOfcld
His execu-
tion.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 223/481
HENRY VIIL 2C9
Would refent on his fon thofe fymptoms of oppofition toC H A P.
his will, and that his death alone would not terminate
that monarch's vengeance. He was a man of prudence,J 54
induftry, and abilities ; worthy of a better mailer and of a
better fate. Though raifed to the fummit of power from
a low origin, he betrayed no infolence or contempt to-
wards his inferiors ; and was careful to remember all the
obligations, which, during his more humble fortune*
he had owed to any one. He had ferved as a private
fentinel in the Italian wars ; when he received fome good
offices from a Lucquefe merchant, who had entirely-
forgotten his perfon, as well as the fervice, which he had
rendered him. Cromwel, in his grandeur, happened, at
London, to can: his eye on his benefactor, now reduced
topoverty, by
misfortunes, He immediately fent for
him, reminded him of their ancient friendfhip, and byhis grateful afiiftance, reinftated him in his former pro-
fperity and opulencer
.
The meafures for divorcing Henry from Anne of«..° J Kin g's df»
Cleves, were carried on at the fame time with the bill of vorce from•
t • n r^ i t-» i r r • Anne ofattainder agamit Lromwel. 1 he houie of peers, in con- cieves.
junction with the commons, applied to the king by peti-
tion, denting that he would allow his marriage to be ex-
amined ; and orders were immediately given to lay the
matter before the convocation. Anne had formerly been
contracted by her father to the duke of Lorraine ; but
(he, as well as the duke, were at that time underage,
and the contract bad been afterwards annulled by confentof both parties. The king, however, pleaded this pre-
contract: as a ground of divorce; and he added two rea-
fons more, which may feem a little extraordinary; that,
when he efpoufed Anne he had not inwardly given his
confent, and that he had not thought proper to confum-
mate the marriage. The convocation was fatislied with
rBurnet, vol. i. p. t-2.
Vol. IV. P thefc
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 224/481
2io HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c. h A P. thefe reafons, and folcmnlv annulled the marriage between
the king and queen : The parliament ratified the decifion
of the clergys
t and the fentence was foon after notified tothe princefs.
Anne was biefl with a happy infenfibility of temper,
even in the points which the moil nearly affecl: her fex ;
and the king's averfion towards her, as well as his profe-
cution of the divorce, had never given her the lead un-
eafinefs. She willingly hearkened to terms of accommoda-tion with him ; and when he offered to adopt her as his
filler, to give her place next the queen and his own
daughter, and to make a fettlement of three thoufand
pounds a year upon her ; fhe accepted of the conditions,
and gave her confent to the divorce l. She even wrote
to her brother (for her father was now dead), that fhe had
been very well ufed in England, and defired him to live
on good terms with the king. The only inflance of
pride which (he betrayed was, that fhe refufed to return
to her own country after the affront which fhe had re-
ceived : and file lived and died in England.
Notwithstanding Anne's moderation, this inci-
dent produced a great coldnefs between the king and the
German princes ;but as the fituation of Europe was
now much altered, Henry was the more indifferent about
their refentment. The clofe intimacy, which had taken
place between Francis and Charles, had fubfifted during
a very lhort time: The diflimilarity of their characters
fbon renewed, with greater violence than ever, their for-
mer jealoufy and hatred. While Charles remained at
Paris, Francis had been imprudently engaged, by his open
per, and by that fatisfa&ibn, which a noble mind na-
turally feels in performing generous actions, to make in
confidence fome dangerous difcoveries to that interefled
monarch -,and having now loft all fufpicion of his rival,
' See ncte [M] at the end of the volume. * Herbert,
p, 458, 459.he
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 225/481
M E N k Y Vllti <m
he hoped that the emperor and he, fupportin^each other, c hap,i
• x"vxrr
might neglecl every other alliance. He not only com- 1
*
j
municated to his gueft the ftate of his negotiations with 154^*
Sultan Solyman and the Venetians : He alio laid open the
Solicitations, which he had received from the court of
England, to enter into a confederacy againft him u.
Charles had no fooner reached his own dominions, than
he (hewed himfelf unworthy of the friendly reception
which he had met with. He abfoiutcly refufed to fulfil his
promife, and put the duke of Orleans in pofiliTion of the
Milanefe : He informed Solyman and the fenate of Ve-
nice of the treatment, which they had received from their
ally : and he took care that Henry ihould not be ig-
narant how readily Francis had abandoned his ancient
friend to whom he owed fuch important obligations, andhad facrificed him to a new confederate : He even poi-
foned and mifreprefented many things, which the unfuf*
peeling heart of the French monarch had difclofed to him*
Had Henry poflefled true judgment and generofity, this
incident alone had been fufficient to guide him in the
choice of his ally. But his domineering pride carried hirn
immediately to renounce the friendship of Francis, whohad fo unexpectedly given the preference to the emperor:
And as Charles invited him to a renewal of ancient amity,
he willingly accepted of the offer ; and thinking himfelf
fecure in this alliance, he neglected the friend/hi n both of
France and of the German princes.
The new turn, which Henry had taken wr ith regardto foreign affairs, was extremely agreeable to his catholic
Subjects ; and as it had perhaps contributed, among other
reafons, to the ruin of Cromwel, it made them entertain
hopes of a final prevalence over their antagenifr. The
tnarriage of the king with Catherine Howard, which fol- Rhmar-
lowed loon after his divorce from Anne ofCleves,
was S3
S
'
CatherineHowards
8 Pere Daniel, Dm Ti'let.
P 2 alfo
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 226/481
»i2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c H A P. a |f regarded as a favourable incident to their party; and
i ^ the fubfcquent events correfponded to their expectations.
1540. 'Pfjg king's councils being now directed by Norfolk and
Gardiner, a furious perfecution commenced againft the
proteftants ; and the law of the fix articles was executed
with rigour. Dr. Barnes, who had been the caufe of
Lambert's execution, felt, in his turn, the feverity of the
perfecuting fpirit ; and, by a bill, which pafFed in par-
liament, he was, without trial, condemned to the flames,
together with Jerome and Gerrard. He difcufFed theo-
logical queftions even at the flake ; and as the difpute be-
tween him and the fherifF, turned upon the invocation of
faints, he faid, that he doubted whether the faints could
pray for us-,
but if they could, he hoped, in half an hour,
to be praying for the fherifF and all the fpe&ators. Henext entreated the fherifF to carry to the king his dyino-
requeft, which he fondly imagined would have authoritywith that monarch, who had fent him to the ftake. Thepurport of his requeft was, that Flenry, befides reprefling-
fuperftitious ceremonies, fhould be extremely vigilant in
preventing fornication and common fwearingvr
.
While Henry was exerting; this violence againft the
proteftants, he (pared not the catholics who denied his
fupremacy ; and a foreigner, at that time in England, had
reafon to fay, that thofe who were againft the pope were
burned, an! thofe who were for him were hangedThe king even difplayed, in an oftentatious manner, this
tyrannical impartiality, which reduced bothparties
to
fubjeciion, and infufed terror into every breaft. Barnes,
Gerrard, and Jerome had been carried to the place of
execution on three hurdles ; and along with them there
was placed on each hurdle a catholic, who was alfo ex-
ecuted for his religion. Thefe catholics were Abel,
Fetherftone, and Powel, who declared, that the mod
• Biiinct, vol. i. p. 198. Fox. *Fox, vol. ii. p, 529.
grievous
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 227/481
HENRY V11L 213
grievous part of their punimment was the being coupled crap.tofuch heretical mifcreants as fufFered with them 7, .
"J^
Though the fpirit of the Englifh feemed to be totally »54°«
funk under the defpotic power of Henry, there appeared
fome fymptoms of difcontent : An inconfiderable re-
bellion broke out in Yorkfhire, headed by Sir John Ne-vil ; but it was foon fuppreiTed, and Nevil, with other
ringleaders, was executed. The rebels were fuppofed to
have been inftigated by the intrigues of cardinal Pole ;
and the king was inftantly determined to make the coun-
tefs of Salifbury, who already lay under fentence of death,
fuffer for her fon's offences. He ordered her to be
carried to execution ; and this venerable matron main- *7 l k May.
tained ftill, in thefe diilrefsful circumftances, the fpirit of
thatlong
race ofmonarchs,
from whom (he was de-
fcended z. She refufed to lay her head on the block, cr
fubmit to a fentence where fhe had received no trial. She
told the executioner, that, if he would have her head; he
mull win it the beft way he could : And thus, makingher venerable grey locks, {he ran about the fcaffold -
3 and
the executioner followed her with his ax, aiming manyfruitlefs blows at her neck, before he was able to crive
the fatal flroke. Thus perifhed the laft of the line
of Plantagenet, which, with great glory, but flill greater
crimes and misfortunes, had governed England for the
fpace of three hundred years. Lord Leonard Grey, a
man who had formerly rendered fervice to the crown,
was alfo beheaded for treafon, foon after the countefs of.Salifbury. We know little concerning the grounds of
his profecution.
The infurrection in the North engaged Henry to make
a progrefs thither, in order to quiet the minds of his peo-
ple, to reconcile them to his government, and to abolifh
the ancient fuperftitions, to which thofe parts were much
y Ssundera, de Schifm. Angl. a Herbert, p. 468.
P 3 addifted.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 228/481
2H HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c
;T_ A p - addicfled. He had alio another motive for this journey,:
w ^Hc purpofed to have a conference at York with his ne-
s 54*« phew the king of Scotland, and, if poflible, to cement a
clofe and indiflolublc union with that kingdom.
State of The fame fpirit of religious innovation, which had
ticothndfefzed other parts of Europe, had made its way into Scot-
land, and had begun, before this period, to excite the
fame jcaloufies, fears, and perfecutions. About the year
1527, Patric Hamilton, a young man of a noble family,
having been created abbot of Feme, was fent abroad
for his education ; but had fallen into company with
fome reformers, and he returned into his own country
very ill difpofed towards that church, of which his birth
and his merit entitled him to attain the hio;he.(r dignities.
The fervour of youth and his zeal for novelty made it
impoflible for him to conceal his fentiments ; and Camp-be!, prior of the Dominican?, who, under colour of friend-
ship and a fympathy in opinion, had infinuated himfelf
into his confidence, accufed him before Beaton, arch-
bilhop of St. Andrews. Hamilton was invited to St.
Andrews, in order to maintain, with fome of the clergy,
a difpute concerning the controverted points ; and after
much reafoning with regard toj unification, free-will, ori-
ginal fin, and ether topics of that nature, the conference
ended with their condemning Hamilton to be burned for
his errors. The young man, who had been deaf to the
insinuations of ambition, was lefs likely to be ihaken with
the fears of death ; while hepropofed
tohimfelf,
both the
glory of bearing teilimony to the truth, and the imme-
diate -:.:; .":rd attending his martyrdom. The people, who
compaffionated his youth, his virtue, and his noble birth,
were much moved at the conitancy of his end ; and an
incident, which foon followed, ftill more confirmed them
|n their favourable fentiments towards him. He had cited
Campbel 3 who ftill infill ted him at the flake, to anfwer
before
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 229/481
H E N R Y VIIL 215
before the judgment-feat of Chrift; and as that perfe-c H A P.
cutor,either aftonifhed with thefe events, or overcome with \
^ jremorfe, or, perhaps, feized cafually with a diftemper,
J 54*-
foon after loft his fenfes, and fell into a fever, of which
he died ; the people regarded Hamilton as a prophet, as
well as a martyra
.
Among the difciples converted by Hamilton, was one
friar Forreft, who became a zealous preacher ; and who,
though he did not openly difcover his fentiments, was
fufue&ed to lean towards the new opinions, His dioce-
fan, the bifhop of Dunkel, enjoined him, when he met
with a good epiftle or good gofpel, which favoured the
liberties of holy church, to preach on it, and let the reft
alone. Forreft replied, that he had read both Old and
New Teftament, and had not found an ill epiftle, or ill
gofpel in any part of them. The extreme attachment to
the Scriptures was regarded in thofe days as a fure cha-
racleriftic of herefy ; and Forreft was foon after broughtto trial, and condemned to the flames. While the
priefts were deliberating on the place of his execution,a byftander advifed them to burn him in a cellar : For
that the fmoke of Mr. Patric Hamilton had infecled all
thofe on whom it blew b.
The clergy were at that time reduced to great diffi-
culties not only in Scotland, but all over Europe. Asthe reformers aimed at a total fubverfion of ancient efta-
blifhments, which they reprefented as idolatrous, impious,
deteftable ; the priefts, who found both their honours
and properties at ftake, thought that they had a right to
refift, by every expedient, thefe dangerous invaders, and
that the fame fimple principles of equity, which juftiried
a man in killing a pyrate or a robber, would acquit themfor the execution of fuch heretics. A toleration, thoughit is never
acceptableto
ecciefiaftics, might, they faid,
'
a Spolfwocd's Hill, church of Scotland, p. 62. & Spotfwcod, p, 65,
P4 be
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 230/481
216 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A P. b c admitted in other cafes : but feemed an abfurditv,
xxxir^
* '
j where fundamentals were fhaken, and where the pof»-
J 54'« feffions, and even the exigence of the eflablifhed clergy
were brought in danger. But though the church was
thus carried by policy, as well as inclination, to kindle
the fires of perfecution, they found the fuccefs of this
remedy very precarious, and obferved, that the enthufi-
aflic zeal of the reformers, inflamed by punifhment,
was aptto
prove contagiouson the
companionateminds
of the fpeclators. The new doctrine, amidft all the
dangers, to which it was expofed, fecretly fpread itfelf
every where ; and the minds of men were gradually dif-
pofed to a revolution in religion.
But the moil dangerous fymptom for the clergy in
Scotland was, that the nobility, from the example of
England, had call a wifhful eye on the church revenues,
and hoped, if a reformation took place, to enrich them-
felves by the plunder of the ecclefiaflics. James himfelf,
who was very poor, and was fomewhat inclined to mag-
nificence, particularly in building, had been fvvaved by
]ike motives ; and began to threaten the clergy with the
fame fate that had attended them in the neighbouring
country. Henry alio never ceafed exhorting his nephev/
to imitate his example ; and being moved both by the
pride of making profelytes, and the profpecT: of fecurity,
fhculd Scotland embrace a clofe union with him, he fo^
licked the king of Scots to meet him at York ; and he
obtained a promife to that purpofe,
Tj-ie ecclefiaflics were alarmed at this refolution of
James, and they employed every expedient, in order to
prevent the execution of it. They reprefented the dan-
ger of innovation ;the pernicious confequences of ag-
grandizing the nobility, already too powerful ; the hazard
of putting himfelf into the hands of the Englifh, his here-r
clitary enemies ; the dependance on them which mufl en-
fue upon his loiing the friend/hip of France, and of all
foreign,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 231/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 232/481
difiblute
life.
2 i3 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, conduct very little merited this tendernefs : One Laf-
xxxir.^ 1 . '_} celles brought intelligence of her diflblute life to Cran-
i54 ? « mer ; and told him, that his filler, formerly a fervant in
the queen's the family or the old dutcneis ot Norfolk, with whomCatherine was educated, had given him a particular ac-
count of her licentious manners. Derham and Mannoc,both of them fervants to the dutchefs, had been admitted
to her bed ; and (he had even taken little care to conceal
her ihame from the other fervants of the familv. The
primate, ilruck with this intelligence, which it was
equally dangerous to conceal or to difcover, communi-
cated the matter to the earl of Hertford and to the chan-
cellor. They agreed, that the matter ihould by no means
be buried in filence ; and the archbifhop himfelf feemed
the moil proper perfon to difclofe it to the king. Cran-
mer, unwilling to fpeak on \o delicate a fubjecl:, wrote
a narrative of the whole, and conveyed it to Henry, whowas infinitely ailonifned at the intelligence. So confi-
dent was he of the fidelity of his con fort, that at firft he
gave no credit to the information ; and he faid to the
privy-feal, to Lord Rufild, high admiral, Sir Anthony
Brown, and Wriotheiley, that he regarded the whole as
a falfehood. C ran mer was now in a very perilous fitua-
tion ; and had not full proof been found, certain and
inevitable deftruciion huHg over him. The king's im-
patience, however, and jcaloufy prompted him to fearch
the matter to the bottom : The privy-feal was ordered
to examine Lafcelles, who per filled in the information
he had given ; and full appealed to his filler's teftimony.
That nobleman next made a journey under pretence of
hunting, and went to SulTex, where the woman at that
time refilled : He found her both conftant in her former
intelligence, and particular as to the fairs ; and the
whole bore but too much the face of probability. Man-
noc and Derham, who were arretted at the fame time,
and
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 233/481
HENRY VIII. 219
and examined by the chancellor, made the queen's guiltc hap.
entirelycertain
bytheir confeftion ; and difcovered other ,
* '
,
particulars, which redounded ftill more to her dishonour. i54'«
Three maids of the family were admitted into her fe-
crets, and fome of them had even palled the night in bed
with her and her lovers. All the examinations were laid
before the king, who was fo deeply affected, that he
remained a long time fpeechlefs, and at laft burft into
tears. He found to his furprife, that his great fkill in dif-
tino-uifhinp- a true maid, of which he boafted in the cafe
of Anne of Cleves, had failed him in that of his prefent
confort. The queen, being next queftioned, denied her
guilt ; but when informed, that a full difcovery was
made, fhe confefled, that fhe had been criminal before
marriage ; and only infiftc-d, that fhe had never beenfalfe to the king's bed. But as there was evidence, that
one Colepepper had paffed the night with her alone fince
her marriage ; and as it appeared, that fhe had taken
Derham, her old paramour, into her fervice, fhe feemed
to deferve little credit in this affeveration ; and the king,
befides, was not of a humour to make any difference be-
tween thefe degrees of guilt.
Henry found, that he could not, by any means, fo 154*'
fully or expeditiously fatiate his vengeance on all thefe ^ an *
criminals as by affembling a parliament, the ufual inftru-
ment of his tyranny. The two houfes, having received
the queen's confeffion, made an addrefs to the king.
They entreated him not to be vexed with this untoward
accident, to which all men were fabject; but to con-
fider the frailty of human nature, and the mutability of
human affairs ; and from thefe views to derive a fubjeel:
of confolation. They de fired leave to pafs a bill of at-
tainder againft the queen aud her accomplices ; and they
begged him to give his affent to this bill, not in perfon,
which
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 234/481
t.20 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C "_6 P * which would renew his vexation, and might endanger
v-.-^-^his health, but by commiflioners appointed for that pur-»54*« pofe. And as there was a law in force, making it trea-
fon to fpeak ill of the queen, as well as of the king,
they craved his royal pardon, if any of them fhould, on
the prefent occafion, have tranfgrefTed any part of the
ftatute.
Having obtained a gracious anfwer to thefe requefts,
the parliament proceeded to vote a bill of attainder fortreafon againir. the queen, and the vifcountefs of Roche-
ford, who had conducted her fecret amours ; and in this
bill Colepepper, and Derham, were alfo comprehended.At the fame time they pafled a bill of attainder for mif-
prifion of treafon againft. the old dutchefs of Norfolk,
Catherine's grandmother ; her uncle, lord William How-
ard, and his lady, together with the countefs of Bridge-
water, and nine perfons more ; becaufe they knew the
queen's vicious courfe of life before her marriage, and
had concealed it. This was an effect, of Henry 'a ufual
extravagance, to expect that parents fhould fo far forget
the ties of natural affection, and the fentiments of fname
and decency, as to reveal to him the mod fecret diforders
of their family. He himfelf feems to have been fenfible
of the cruelty of this proceeding: For he pardoned the
dutchefs of Norfolk, and moll of the others, condemned
for mifprifion of treafon.
However, to fecure himfelf for the future, as well as
his fucceffors, from this fatal accident, heengaged
the
parliament to pafs a law fomewhat extraordinary. It was
enacted, that any one who knew, or vehemently fuf-
pected any guilt in the queen, might, within twenty
days, difclofe it to the king or council, without incur?
ring the penalty of any former law, againft defamingthe queen ; but prohibiting every one, at the fame
time, from fpreading the matter abroad, or even privately
whifpering it to others : It was alfo enacted, that, if the
king
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 235/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 236/481
222 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
JtvnP *
bifhops a furrender of chapter lands ; and by this device^
v—^—'he pillaged the fees of Canterbury, York, and London*J 54*- and enriched his greedy parafites and flatterers with their
fpoils.Ecclefiaftic The clergy have been commonly fo fortunate as to
make a concern for their temporal interefts go hand irt
hand with a jealoufy for orthodoxy ; and both thefe paf-
fions be regarded, by the people, ignorant and fuperfti-
tious, as proofs ofzeal for
religion:
But the violent andheadftrong character of Henry now disjoined thefe ob-
jects * His rapacity was gratified by plundering the
church, his bigotry and arrogance by perfecuting here-
tics. Though he engaged the parliament to mitigate the
penalties of the fix articles, fo far as regards the marriage of
priefts, which was now only fubjected to a forfeiture of
goods, chattels, and lands during life 3 he was ftill equally
bent on maintaining a rigid purity in fpecuiative princi-
ciples. He had appointed a commiffion, confiiting of the
two archbifhops and feveral bifhops of both provinces,
together with a confiderable number of doctors of divi-
nity ; and by virtue of his ecclefiaftical fupremacy he had
given them in charge to chufe a religion for his people.
Before the commiflioners had made any progrefs in this
arduous undertaking, the parliament, in 1541, had pafT-
ed a law, by which they ratified all the tenets, which
thefe divines fhould thereafter eftablifh with the king's
content: And they were not afhamed of thus exprefsly
declaring that they took their religion upon truft, andhad no other rule, in fpiritual as well as temporal con-
cerns, than the arbitrary will of their mafter. There is
only one claufe of the ftatute, which may fecm at firffc
fight to favour fomewhat of the fpirit of liberty : It was
enacted that the ecclefiaftical commiffioners mould efta-
blim nothing repugnant to the laws and ftatutes of therealm. But in reality this provifo was inferted .by the
7 king,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 237/481
HENRY VIII. 223
kin'*, to ferve his own purpofes. By introducing a con- CHAP.fufion and contradiction into the laws, he became more 1
y»
matter of every one's life and property. And as the '54 a »
ancient indcpendance of the church ftill gave him jea-
loufy, he was well pleafed, under cover of fuch a claufe,
to introduce appeals from the fpiritual to the civil courts.
It was for a like reafon, that he would never promulgate
a body of canon law ; and he encouraged the judges on
all occafions to intcrpofe in ecclefiaftical caufes, wherever
they thought the law of royal prerogative concerned. Ahappy innovation \ though at firft invented for arbitrary
purpofes !
The king, armed by the authority of parliament, or
rather by their acknowledgment of that fpiritual fupre-
macy, whichhe believed inherent in
him, employed hiscommifiioners to fele£r. a fyftem of tenets for the aflent
and belief of the nation. A fmall volume was foon after
publifhed, called, the Injlitution of a Chrlfaan Man^which was received by the convocation, and voted to be
the ftandard of orthodoxy. All the delicate points of
juftification, faith, free-will, good works, and grace,
are there defined, with a leaning towards the opinion of
the reformers : The facraments, which a (qw years be-
fore were only allowed to be three, were now encreafed
to the number of feven, conformable to the fentiments of
the catholics. The king's caprice is difcernable through-out the whole ; and the book is in reality to be regarded
as his composition. For Henry, while he made his opi-
nion a rule for the nation, would tie his own hands by no
canon or authority, not even by any which he himfelf
had formerly eftablifhed.
The people had occafion foon after to fee a farth
inftance of the king's inconftancy. He was not long fa-
tisfied with his Inftitution of a Chriftian Man : He or-
dered a new book to be compofed, called, the Efuditihn
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 238/481
124 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP.
XXXII. of a Chrijlian Man ; and without afking the affent of the
convocation, he publimed, by his own authority, and
*54*» that of the parliament, this new model of orthodoxy. It
differs from the Institution sj but the king was no lefs
pofitive in his new creed than he had been in the old j and
he required the belief of the nation to veer about at his
fignal. In both thefe compofitions, he was particularly
careful to inculcate the doctrine of pailive obedience j and
he wasequally
careful to retain the nation in the practice.
While the king was fpreading his own books amongthe people, he feems to have been extremely perplexed, as
were alfo the clergy, what courfe to take with the Scrip-
tures. A review had been made by the fynod of the new
translation of the Bible ; and Gardiner had propofed, that,*
inftead of employing Englifh exprefTions throughout, fe-
veral Latin words fliould ftill be preferved -} becaufe they
contained, as he pretended, fuch peculiar energy and fig-
nifkance, that they had no correfpondent terms in the.
vulgar tongueh
. Among thefe were eclefia, pcenitentiaj
poniifex, eontrituS) holocaufta, facra??ientum, elementa, cere-
monia, myfierium, prejbyter, facrificium y bumilitas, fatisfac-
th 9 peccatum, gratia, hojYia, charitas, &c. But as this
mixture would have appeared extremely barbarous, and
was plainly calculated for no other purpofe than to retain
the people in their ancient ignorance, the propofal was
rejected.The knowledge of the people, however, at
lecit their difputative turn, feemed to be an inconvenience
ftill more dangerous ; and the king and parliamentj
,
loon after the publication of the Scriptures, retracted the
conceffion, which they had formerly made ; and prohi-
bited all but gentlemen and merchants from perufing
them k. Even that liberty was not granted, without an
apparent
g Coll'er, vol. ii. p. 190.h Dumet, vcl.i. p. 315.
i Which met on the i»d of January, 1513.k 33 Hen. VIII, c. 1. The leading 01 the Bible, hmvever, could nor,
at
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 239/481
HENRY VIII. 225
apparent hefitation, and a dread of the confequences :c
vT
'-^ fp '
Thefe perfons were allowed to read, fo it be done quietly* v—'
and with good order. And the preamble to the act fets , 54*»
forth," that many feditious and ignorant perfons had
'* abufed the liberty granted them of reading the Bible,<c and that great diverfity of opinion, animofities, tu-"
mules, and fchifms had been occafioned by perverting" the fenfe of the Scriptures." It feemed very difficult
to reconcile theking's
model foruniformity,
with the
permiffion of free enquiry.The mafs-book alfo patted under the king's revifal ;
and little alteration was as yet made in it : Some doubt-
ful or fictitious faints only were ftruck out ; and the
name of the pope was erazed. This latter precaution
was likewife ufed with regard toeverv new book that was
printed, or even old book that was fold. The word,
Pope, was carefully omitted or blotted out l
; as if that
precaution could abolim the term from the language, or
as if fuch a perfecution of it did not rather imprint it
more ftrongly in the memory of the people.
The king took care about this time to clear the
churches from another abufe, which had creeped intothem. Plays, interludes, and farces were there often
aded in derifion of the former fuperftitions ; and the re-
verence of the multitude for ancient principles and modes
of worfliip was thereby gradually effaced m. We do not
hear, that the catholics attempted to retaliate by employ-
ing this powerful engine againft their adverfaries, or en-
deavoured by like arts to expofe that fanatical fpirit, bywhich, it appears, the reformers were frequently actuated.
Perhaps the people were not difpofed to relifh a jeft on
at that time, have much effeft in England, where fo few perfons had learned
to read. There were but 500 copies printed of this firft authored edition
of the B;blej
a book of which there are now feveral millions of copies in the
kingdom.1
Parliamentary hiftoiy, vol.iii.p. it 3. m Burnet, vol. i. p. 318.
Vol. IV. Q_ that
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 240/481
226 HISTORY OF ENGL AND.
C h A P. that fide : Perhaps the greater fimplicity and the more
v_ . ..
*
j fpiritual abftract worihip of the proteftants, gave lefs hold
.*54*« to ridicule, which is commonly founded on fenfible re-
prefentations. It was, therefore, a very agreeable con-
cefllon, which the king made to the catholic party, to
fupprefs entirely thefe religious comedies.
Thus Henry laboured incefTantly, by arguments,
creeds, and penal itatutes, to bring his fubjects to an
uniformity in their religious fentiments : But as he en-
tered, himfelf, with the greateft earneflnefs, into all thofe
fcholaftic difputes, he encouraged the people, by his ex-
ample, to apply themfelves to the fludy of theology ; and
it was in vain afterwards to expecSl, however prefent fear
might reftrain their tongues or pens, that they would
cordially agree in any fet of tenets or opinions prefcribed
to them.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 241/481
HENRY VIII. 227
CHAP. XXXIII.»
War with Scotland Viclory of Solway ——Death
of James V. Treaty with Scotland New
rupture Rupture with France A Parlia-
ment Affairs of Scotland A Parliament
Campaign in France A Parliament—*
Peace with France and Scotland —P erfecutions
Execution of the earl of Surrey -Attainder
of the duke of Norfolk Death of the king
His character ——Mifcellaneous tranfacliojis.
ENRY, being determined to avenge himfelf one H A P.
the king of Scots for flighting the advances, which XXX111'^
he had made him, would gladly have obtained a fupply i 54 ^.
from parliament, in order to profecute that enterprize ; g
Vari
W1
]j
h
but as he did not think it prudent to difcover his
intentions, that afTembly,conformably
to theirfrugal
maxims, would underftand no hints ; and the kins: was
difappointed in his expectations. He continued, how-
ever,•
to make preparations for war ; and as ibon as he
thought himfelf in a condition to invade Scotland, he
publifhed a manifefto, by which he endeavoured to juf-
tify hoftilities. He complained of James's breach of word,
in declining the promifed interview ; which was the real
ground of the quarreln
: But in order to give a more fpe-
cious colouring to the enterprize, he mentioned other in-
juries j namely, that his nephew had granted protection to
fome Englifh rebels and fugitives, and had detained fome
territory, which, Henry pretended, belonged to England.
& Buchanan, lib. 14. Drummond in James the Fifth.
Q.» He
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 242/481
11% HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c K A p. He even revived the old claim to the vaflalage of Scot-
XXXIII,_ — \ land, and he fummoned James to do homage to him as
*54*. his liege lord and fuperior. He employed the duke of
Norfolk, whom he called the fcourge of the Scots, to
command in the war j and though James fent the bifhopof Aberdeen, and Sir James Learmont of Darfay, to ap-
peafe his uncle, he would hearken to no terms of accom-
modation. While Norfolk was aflembling his army at
Newcaftle, Sir Robert Bowes, attended by Sir Ralph
Sadler, Sir Ralph Evers, Sir Brian Latoun, and others,
made an incurfion into Scotland, and advanced towards
Jedburgh, with an intention of pillaging and deftroying
that town. The earl of Angus, and George Douglas,his brother, who had been many years banifhed their
country, and had fubfifted by Henry's bounty, joined the
Englifh army in this incurfion ; and the forces, commandedby Bowes, exceeded four thoufand men. James had not
been negligent in his preparations for defence, and had
pofted a confiderable body, under the command of the earl
of Huntley, for the protection of the borders. Lord
Hume, at the head of his vaiTals, was haftening to join
Huntley,when he met with the Englifh army j and an
24th Aug. action immediately enfued. During the engagement, the
forces under Huntley began to appear 3 and the Englifh,
afraid of being furrounded and overpowered, took to flight,
and were purfued by the enemy. Evers, Latoun, and
fome other perfons of diftinction, were taken prifoners.
A few only of fmall note fell in the fkirmifh .
The duke of Norfolk, meanwhile, began to movefrom his camp at Newcaflle 5 and being attended by the
earls of Shrewsbury, Derby, Cumberland, Surrey, Hert-
ford, Rutland, with many others of the nobility, he ad-
vanced to the borders. His forces amounted to above
twenty thoufand men 3 and it required the utmoft efforts
o Buchanan, lib. 14,
Of
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 243/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 244/481
230 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C ] A P. earls of CafHlis and Glencairn ; the lords MaxweLt
*
j Fleming. Somerville, Oliphant, Grey, who were all
5 54*' fent to London, and given in cuftody to different no-
blemen.
The king of Scots, hearing of this difafter, was afto-
nifhed ; and being naturally of a melancholic difpo-
fition, as well as endowed with a high fpirit, he loft all
command of his temper on this difmal occafion. Rage
againfthis
nobility,who, he
believed,had
betrayedhim ; fhame for a defeat by fuch unequal numbers ; re-
gret for the paft, fear of the future ; all thefe paffions fo
wrought upon him, that he would admit of no confola-
tion, but abandoned himfelf wholly to defpair. His bodywas wafted by fympathy with his anxious mind ; and
even his life began to be thought in danger. He had no-
iflue living ; and hearing that his queen was fafely deli-
vered, he afked whether fhe had brought him a male or
female child ? Being told, the latter ; he turned himfelf
in his bed :" The crown came with a woman," faid he,
" and it will go with one : Many miferies await this
<cpoor kingdom : Henry will make it his own either by
14-th Dec. " force of arms orby marriage." A
fewdays after,
he
James the expired, in the flower of his age ; a prince of confiderableFifth, virtues and talents ; well fitted, by his vigilance and per-
fonal courage, for reprefling thofe diforders, to which his
kingdom, during that age, was fo much expofed. Heexecuted juftice with impartiality and rigour; but as he
fupported the commonalty and the church againft the ra-
pine of the nobility, he efcaped not the hatred of that
order. The proteftants alfo, whom he oppofed, have
endeavoured to throw many ftains on his memory; but
have not been able to fix any confiderable imputation
upon him q .
q See note [O] at the end of the volume.
Henry
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 245/481
HENRY VIII. 2 V
Henry was no fooner informed of his victory and of c HAP.XXXIII.
the death of his nephew, than he projected, as James ..j
had forefeen, the fcheme of uniting Scotland to his own i54>
dominions, by marrying his fon, Edward, to the heirefs
of that kingdomr
. He called together the Scottifh no-
bles, who were his prifoners ; and after reproaching them,
in fevere terms, for their pretended breach of treaty, he
began to foften his tone, and propofed to them this expe-
dient, by which,he
hoped,thofe
diforders,fo
prejudi-cial to both flates, would for the future be prevented.
He offered to beftow on them their liberty without ran-
fom; and only required of them engagements to favour
the marriage of the prince of Wales with their youngmiflrefs. They were eafily prevailed on to give their
affent to a propofal, which feemed fo natural, and fo ad-
vantageous to both kingdoms ; and being conducted to
Newcaftle, they delivered to the duke of Norfolk hoftages
for their return, in cafe the intended nuptials were not
completed : And they thence proceeded to Scotland,
where they found affairs in fome confufion.
The pope, obferving his authority in Scotland to be
in danger from the fpreading of the new opinions, hadbeftowed on Beaton, the primate, the dignity of car-
dinal, in order to confer more influence upon him j and
that prelate had long been regarded as prime minifter to
James, and as the head of that party, which defended
the ancient privileges and property of the ecclefiaftics.
Uponthe death of his matter, this man,
apprehenfiveof
the confequences both to his party and to himfeif, endea-
voured to keep poffeffion of power ; and for that purpofe,
he is accufed of executing a deed, which required a high
degree of temerity. He forged, it is faid, a will for the king,
appointing himfeif, and three noblemen more, regents of
*
£towe, p, 524..Herbert, Burnet, Buchanan.
Q_4 * he
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 246/481
232 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, the kingdom during the minority of the infant princefs
s:
XXXIII do /
j At leaft, for hiftorians are not well agreed in the circum-
543. fiances of the fact, he had read to James a paper of that
import, to which that monarch, during the delirium
which preceded his death, had given an imperfect afTent
and approbationz
. By virtue of this will, Beaton had
put himfelf in pofleflion of the government \ and having
united his interefh with thofe of the queen-dowager, he
obtainedthe confent of the convention of
ftates,and ex-
cluded the pretenfions of the earl of Arran.
James earl of Arran, of the name of Hamilton, was
next heir to the crown by his grandmother, daughter of
James III. ; and on that account feemed beft entitled to
pofTefs that high office, into which the cardinal had in-
truded himfelf. The profpect alfo of his fucceffion after
a princefs, who was in fuch tender infancy, procured him
many partizans ; and though his character indicated little
fpirit, activity, or ambition, a propenfity, which he had
difcovered for the new opinions, had attached to him all
the zealous promoters of thofe innovations. By means
of thefe adherents, joined to the vafTals of his own fami-
ly, he had been able to make oppontion to the cardinal's
adminiftration ; and the fufpicion of Beaton's forgery,
with the accefTion of the noblemen, who had been pri-
foners in England, affifted too by fome money fent
from London, was able to turn the balance in his favour.
The earl of Angus and his brother, having taken the pre-
fent opportunity of returning into their native country,
oppofed the cardinal with all the credit of that powerful
family ;and the majority of the convention had now.em-
braced oppofite interefh to thofe which formerly prevailed.
Arran was declared governor j the cardinal was commit-
s Sadler's Let'ur?, p. 16 f. Spotfwood, p, 71, Buchanan, lib. 15,
t John Knox, Hiftory of the Reformation.
ted
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 247/481
HENRY VIIL 2 33
ted to cuflody under the care of lord Seton ; and a nego-c J* r £ P.
ciation was commenced with Sir Ralph Sadler, the Eng-v
v1
iifh ambafTador, for the marriage of the infant queen with ,543 '
the prince of Wales. The following conditions were Treaty with
quickly agreed on j that the queen fhould remain in Scot-
land till fhe fhould be ten years of age ; that me fhould
then be fent to England to be educated ; that fix Scottifh
noblemen mould immediately be delivered as hoftages to
Henry ; and that the kingdom, notwithstanding its union
with England, fhould frill retain its laws and privilegesu
.
By means of thefe equitable conditions, the war between
the nations, which had threatened Scotland with fuch dif-
mal calamities, feemed to be fully compofed, and to be
changed into perpetual concord and amity.
But the cardinal-primate, having prevailed on Setonto reilore him to his liberty, was able, by his intrigues, to
confound all thefe meafures, which appeared fo well con-
certed. He alTembled the moft. confiderable ecclefiaftics ;
and having reprefented to them the imjminent danger, to
which their revenues and privileges were expofed, he per-
fuaded them to collect privately from the clergy a large
fum of money, by which, if entrufted to his management,he engaged to overture the fchemes of their enemies w
,
Befides the partizans, whom he acquired by pecuniary
motives, he rouzed up the zeal of thofe, who were at-
tached to the catholic worfhip ; and he reprefented the
union with England as the fure forerunner of ruin to the
church and to the ancient religion. The national anti-
pathy of the Scots to their fouthern neighbours was alfo
an infallible engine, by which the cardinal wrought uponthe people; and though the terror of Henry's arms, and
their own inability to make refiftance, had procured a
temporary aflent to the alliance and marriage propofcdthe fettled habits of the nation
producedan extreme aver-
u Sir Ralph Sadler's Utters. w Buchanan, lib. ijj,
fion
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 248/481
%U HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c h A P.fion to thofe meafures. The EnMifli ambafTador and his
k
*
. retinue received many infults from perfons whom the car-
'545* dinal had indicated to commit thofe violences, in hopes of
bringing on a rupture : But Sadler prudently diflembled
the matter ;and waited patiently, till the day appointed
for the delivery of the hoftages. He then demanded of
the regent the performance of that important article ; but
received for anfwer, that his authority was very preca-
rious, that the nation had now taken a different impref-
fion, and that it was not in his power to compel any of
the nobility to deliver themfelves as hoftages to the Eng-lim. Sadler, forefeeing the confequence of this refufal,
fent a fummons to all thofe who had been prifoners in
England, and required them to fulfil the promife, which
they had given, of returning into cuftody. None of them
ihowed fo much fentiment of honour, as to fulfil their
engagements, except Gilbert Kennedy, earl of Caflilis.
Henry was fo well pleafed with the behaviour of this
nobleman, that he not only received him gracioufly, but
honoured him with prefents, gave him his liberty, and
fent him back to Scotland, with his two brothers, whom
he hadleft as
hoftagesx
.
tfewrup- This behaviour of the Scottiih nobles, though it re-
flected difhonour on the nation, was not difagreeable to
the cardinal, who forefaw, that all thefe perfons would
now be deeply intepefted to maintain their enmity and op-
pofition to England. And as a war was foon expected
with that kingdom, he found it neceffary immediately to
applv to France, and to crave the afTiftance of that an-
cient allv, during the prefent diftrefTes of the Scottiih na-
tion. Though the French king was fully fenfible of his
intereft in fupporting Scotland, a demand of aid could
not have been made on him at a more unfeafonable junc-
ture. Flis pretenfions on the Milanefe, ami his refent-
x Buchanan, lib, 15,
ment
Sure.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 249/481
HENRY VIII. 235
merit againft Charles, had engaged him in a war with c ^ A p »
b ' & b XXXIII.that potentate; and
havingmade
great, thoughfruitlelsv
y/, j
efforts during the preceding campaign, he was the more 1 S43*
difabled at prefent from defending his own dominions,much more from granting any fuccour to the Scots.
Matthew Stuart, earl of Lenox, a young nobleman of a
great family, was at that time in the French court ; and
Francis, being informed, that he was engaged in ancient
and hereditary enmity with the Hamiltons, who had mur-dered his father, fent him over to his native country, as a
fupport to the cardinal and the queen-mother : And he
promifed, that a fupply of money, and, if neceflary, even
military fuccours, fhould foon be difpatched after him.
Arran, the governor, feeing all thefe preparations againft
him, aiTembledhis
friends, and made an attempt to getthe perfon of the infant queen into his cuftody ; but be-
ing repulfed, he was obliged to come to an accommoda-
tion with his enemies, and to entruft that precious chargeto four neutral perfons, the heads of potent families, the
Grahams, Arefkines, Lindfeys, and Levingftones. Thearrival of Lenox, in the midft of thefe tranfactions, ferved
to render the victory of the French party over the Eng-lifh ftill more undifputable r.
The oppcfition, which Henry met with in Scotland Rupture
from the French intrigues, excited his refentment, and France,
farther confirmed the refolution, which he had already
taken, of breaking with France, and of uniting his arms
with thofe of the emperor. He had other grounds of com-plaint againft the French king ; which, though not of
great importance, yet being recent, were able to over-
balance thofe great injuries, which he had formerly re-
ceived from Charles. He pretended, that Francis had
engaged to imitate his example in feparating himfelf en-
y Buchanan, lib, 15, Drummond.
tirely
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 250/481
» 3 6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A
P.tirely from the fee of Rome, and that he had broken his
u^^— t promife in that particular. He was diflatisfied, that James,, S43» his nephew, had been allowed to marry, firft Magdalene
of France, then a princefs of the houfe of Guife ; and he
confidered thefe alliances as pledges, which Francis gaveof his intentions to fupport the Scots againft the power of
England z. He had been informed of fome railleries*
which the French king had thrown out againft his con-
duct with regardto
his wives. He was difgufted, thatFrancis, after fo many obligations which he owed him,had facriflced him to the emperor ; and, in the confidence
of friendfhip, had rafhly revealed his fecrets to that fubtle
and interefted monarch. And he complained, that regu-lar payments were never made of the fums due to him byFrance, and of the penfion, which had been ftipulated.
Impelled by all thefe motives, he alienated himfelf from
his ancient friend and confederate, and formed a leaguewith the emperor, who earneftly courted his alliance.
This league, befides ftipulations for mutual defence, con-
tained a plan for invading France ; and the two monarchs
agreed to enter Francis's dominions with an army, each
of twenty-five thoufand men ; and to require that prince
to pay Henry all the fums which he owed him, and to
confign Boulogne, Montreuil, Terouenne, and Ardres,as a fecurity for the regular payment of his penfion for
the future : In cafe thefe conditions were rejected, the
confederate princes agreed to challenge, for Henry, the
crown ofFrance, or,
in default ofit,
the dutchies of
Normandy, Aquitaine, and Guienne ; for Charles, the
dutchy of Burgundy, and fome other territories a. That
they might have a pretence for enforcing thefe claims,
they fent a meflage to Francis, requiring him to renounce
his alliance with Sultan Solyman, and to make reparation
X Pere Daniel. a
Rymer,vol. xiv.
p. 768,vol. xv.
p.2.
(or
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 251/481
HENRY VIII. 2 37
for all the prejudice, which Chriftendom had fuflained ^ H a P._
A.XX11I.from that unnatural confederacy. Upon the French king s \
v/ ___ ;
refufal, war was declared againft him by the allies. It may2 5^3*
be proper to remark, that the partizans of France objected
to Charles his alliance with the heretical king of Eng-
land, as no lefs obnoxious than that which Francis had
contracted with Solyman : And they obferved, that this
league was a breach of the folemn promife, which he
had given to Clement VII. never to make peace or alli-
ance with England.While the treaty with the emperor was negotiating,
**d Jan,
the king fummoned a new feiHon of parliament, in or- ment ,
der to obtain fupplies for his projected war with France.
The parliament granted him a fubfidy to be paid in three
years : It was levied in a peculiar manner ; but exceeded
not three {hillings in the pound, upon any individual b.
The convocation gave the king fix fhillings in the pound,
to be levied in three years. Greater fums were always,
even during the eftablifhrnent of the Catholic religion,
exacted from the clergy than from the laity : Which
made the emperor Charles fay, when Henry difiblved the
monafteries, and fold their revenues, or beftowed them onhis nobility and courtiers, that he had killed the hen,
which brought him the golden eggsc
.
The parliament alfo facilitated the execution of the
former law, by which the king's proclamations were made
equal to ilatutes : They appointed, that any nine coun-
fellors fhould form a legal court for punifhingall difobe-
b They who were worth in goods twenty fhillings and upwards to five
pounds, paid four pence of every pound ;from five pounds to ten pounds,
eight pence ;from ten pounds to twenty pounds, iixteen pence j
from twenty
and upwards, two (hillings. Lands, fees, and annuities, from twenty lhil-
J ngs to five pounds, paid eight psnce in the pound ; from five pounds to ten
pounds, fixteen pence ;from ten pounds to twenty pounds, two millings j
from t.venty pounds and upwards, three fellings,
cCollier, vol. ii. p. 176.
dience
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 252/481
238 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap, dience to proclamations. The total abolition of iuries in
XXXIIf.i 'i criminal caufes, as well as of all parliaments, feemed, if
1543- the king had fo pleafed, the necefTary confequence of this
enormous law. He might iffue a proclamation, enjoining
the execution of any penal ftatute, and afterwards try the
criminals, not for breach of the ftatute, but for difobe-
dience to his proclamation. It is remarkable, that lord
Mountj oy entered a proteft againft this law ; and it is
equally remarkable, that that proteft is the only one en-tered againft any public bill during this whole reign
d.
It was enacted % this feflion, that any fpiritual per-
fon, who preached or taught contrary to the doctrine con-
tained in the king's book, the Erudition of a Chrijlian
man 9 or contrary to any doctrine which he fhould there-
after promulgate, was to be admitted on the firft convic-
tion to renounce his error ; on the fecond, he was re-
quired to carry a faggot ; which if he refufed to do, or
fell into a third offence, he was to be burnt. But the
laity, for the third offence, were only to forfeit their
goods and chattels, and be liable to perpetual imprifon-
merit. Indictments muft be laid within a year after
the offence, and the prifoner was allowed to bring wit-neffes for his exculpation. Thefe penalties were lighter
than thofe which were formerly impofed on a denial of
the real prefence : It was, however, fubjoined in this fta-
tute, that the act of the fix articles was ftill in force. But
in order to make the king more entirely mafter of his
people, it was enacted, that he might hereafter, at his
pleafure, change this act, or any provifion in it. By this
claufe, both parties were retained in fubjection : So far
as regarded religion, the king was inverted, in the fulleft
manner, with the fele legiflative authority in his king-dom : And all his fubjects were, under the fevereft pe-
<•
Burnet, p. 322,*
34and
35Hen. VIII. c. 1.
nalties,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 253/481
HENRY VIII. 239
nalties, exprefslv bound to receive implicitly, whatever c hap.doctrine he fhould pleafe to recommend to them. ,
*_j
The reformers began to entertain hopes, that this J 5+3«
great power of the crown might ftill be employed in their
favour. The king married Catherine Par, widow of N evil
lord Latimer ; a woman of virtue, and fomewhat inclined
to the new doclrine. By this marriage, Henry confirmed
what had formerly been foretold in jelt, that he would
be obliged to efpoufe a widow. The king's league withthe emperor feemed a circumftance no lefs favourable to
the catholic party ; and thus matters remained {till nearlybalanced between the factions.
The advantages, gained by this powerful confederacybetween Henry and Charles, were inconfiderable duringthe
prefent year.The
campaignwas
openedwith a vic-
tory, gained by the duke of Cleves, Francis's ally, over
the forces of the emperorf
: Francis, in pcrfon, took the
£eld early ; and made himfelf matter, without refiftance,
of the whole dutchy of Luxembourg : He afterwards took
Landrecy, and added fome fortifications to it. Charles,
having at la.it aflembled a powerful army, appeared in the
Low-Countries ; and after taking almoft every fortrefs in
the dutchy of Cleves, he reduced the duke to accept of
the terms, which he was pleafed to prefcribe to him.
Being then joined by a body of fix thoufand EngliOi, he
fat down before Landrecy, and covered the fiege with an
army of above forty thoufand men, Francis advanced at
the head of an army not much inferior ; as if he intendedto give the emperor battle, or oblige him to raife the
fiese : But while thefe two rival monarchs were facino-
each other, and all men were in expectation of fome great
event ; the French kino- found means of throwing fuc-
cour into Landrecy, and having thus effecled his pur-
pofe, he fkilfuily made a retreat. Charles, finding the
f Meraoires du Bella;, lib. 10,
feafon
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 254/481
24 o HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, feafon far advanced, defpaired of fuccefs in his enterprize*
XXXIII •
i Jjand found it neceflary to go into winter-quarters.T
543- The vanity of Henry was flattered, by the figureA.JT31IS or m m _^ a
Scotland, which he made in the great tranfacrions on the conti-
nent : But the interefts of his kingdom were more
deeply concerned in the event of affairs in Scotland.
Arran, the governor, was of fo indolent and unambi-
tious a character, that, had he not been ftimulated byhis friends and dependants, he never had afpired to anyfhare in the adminiftration ; and when he found himfelf
overpowered by the party of the queen-dowager, the car-
dinal, and the earl of Lenox, he was glad to accept of
any terms of accommodation, however difhonourable.
He even gave them a fure pledge of his fincerity, by re-
nouncing the principles of the reformers, and recon-
ciling; himfelf to the Romifh communion in the Francif-can church at Stirling. By this weaknefs and levity he
loft his credit with the whole nation, and rendered the
proteftants, who were hitherto the chief fupport of his
power, his mortal enemies. The cardinal acquired an
entire afcendant in the kingdom : The queen-dowager
placed implicit confidence in him : The governor was
obliged toyield
to him in every pretention : Lenox alone
was become an obftacle to his meafures, and reduced him*
to fome difficulty.
The inveterate enmity, which had taken place between
the families of Lenox and Arran, made the interefts of
thefe two noblemen entirely incompatible ; and as the
cardinaland
the Frenchparcy,
in order toengage Lenox
the more in their caufe, had flattered him with the hopes
of fucceeoin^ to the crown after their infant fovereio-n
this rivalfhip had tended (till farther to rouze the animo-
fity of the Hamiltons. Lenox too had been encouragedto afpire to the marriage of the queen-dowager, which
would have given him fome pretenfions to the regency,
an4i
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 255/481
HENRY VIII. 241
and as he was become a/Turning:, on account of the fer- c '
P.
vices which he had rendered theparty,
the cardinal v__^>/
^„_ - ;
found, that, fince he mud: chufe between the friendfnip2 543-
of Lenox, and that of Arran, the latter nobleman, who
was more eafily governed, and who was inverted with
prefent authority, was in every refpecl preferable. Lenox,
finding that he was not likely to fucceed in his prcferi-
fions to the queen-dowager, and that Arran favoured bythe cardinal, had acquired the afcendant, retired to Dun-barton, the governor of which was entirely at his devo-
tion ; he entered into a fecret correfpondence with the
Englifh court; and he fummoned his vaffals and parti-
zans to attend him. Ail thofe who were inclined to the
proteftant religion, or were on any account difcontented
with the cardinal's adminiftration, nowregarded
Lenoxas the head of their party ;
and they readily made him a
tender of their ferviccs, In a little time, he had collected
an army of ten thoufand men, and he threatened his ene-
mies with immediate deflruelion. The cardinal had no
equal force to oppofe to him ; but as he was a prudent man,he forefaw, that Lenox could not long; fubfift fo great an
army, and he endeavoured to gain rime, by opening a
negociation with him. He feduced his followers, by va-
rious artifices ; he prevailed on the Douglaifes to change
party ; he reprefented to the whole nation the danger of
civil wars and commotions : And Lenox, oblerving: the
unequal contefr, in which he was engaged, was at laft
obliged to lay down his arms, and to accept of an accom-modation with the governor and the cardinal. Prefent
peace was reftored ; but no confidence took place between
the parties. Lenox, fortifying his caflles, and puttinghimfelf in a pofture of defence, waited the arrival of Eno - -
liih fuccours, from whofe afli (lance alone he expected to
obtain the fuperiority over his enemies.
Vol. IV. R While
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 256/481
i±z HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP.
XXXIII.While the winter feafon reftrained Henry from mill*
tary operations, he fummoned anew parliament ; in which'544- a law was pafied, fuch as he was pleafed to dictate, with
January 14.* 7 *
a parlia- regard to the fucceffion of the crown. After declaring*
that the prince of Wales, or any of the king's male iffue,
were firft and immediate heirs to the crown, the parlia-
ment reftored the two princeffes, Mary and Elizabeth, to
their right of fucceffion. This feemed a reafonable piece
of juftice, and corrected what the king's former violence
had thrown into confufion ; but it was impoflible for
Henry to do any thing, how laudable foever, without be-
traying in fome circumftance, his ufual extravagance and
caprice : Though he opened the way for thefe two prin-
ceffes to mount the throne, he would not allow the acts
to be reverfed, which had declared them illegitimate ; he
made the parliament confer on him a power of ftill ex-
cluding them, if they refufed to fubmit to any conditions,
which he fhould be pleafed to impofe ; and he required
them to enact, that, in default of his own iflue, he might
difpofe of the crown, as he pleafed, by will or letters pa-
tent. He did not probably forefee, that, in proportion as
he degraded the parliament, by rendering it the paflive
inftrument of his variable and violent inclinations, he
taught the people to regard all its acls as invalid, and
thereby defeated even the purpofes, which he was fo bent
to attain.
An act paffed, declaring that the king's ufual flile
fhould be"
King of England, France, and Ireland,<c defender of the faith, and on earth the fupreme head** of the church of England and Ireland." It feemed a
palpable inconfiftency, to retain the title of Defender of
the faith, which the court of Rome had conferred on him,
for maintaining its caufe againft Luther ; and yet fubjoin
his ecclefiaftical fupremacy, in oppofition to the claims of
that court.
An
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 257/481
HENRY VIIT. 243
An act alfo paffed, for theM^frriffion of the debt, which CHAP,XXXIII
theking
hadlately
contractedby
ageneral loan,
levied
upon the people. It will eafily be believed, that, after >544-
the former act of this kind, the loan was not entirely
Voluntary s. But there was a peculiar circumftance, at-
tending the prefent ftatute, which none but Henry would
have thought of; namely, that thofe who had already got-ten payment, either in whole or in part, mould refund
the money to the exchequer.
The oaths, which Henry impofed for the fecurity of
his ecclefiaftical model, were not more reafonable than his
other meafures. All his fubjects of any diftinction had
already been obliged to renounce the pope's fupremacy ;
but as the claufes to which they fwore had not been
deemedentirely fatisfactory,
another oath wasimpofed ;
and it was added, that all thofe who had taken the for-
mer oaths, fhould be understood to have taken the new
one h. A ftrange fuppofition ! to reprefent men as bound
by an oath, which they had never taken.
The moft commendable law, to which the parliament
gave their fanction, was that by which they mitigated the
law of the fix articles, and enacted, that no perfon fhould
be put to his trial upon an accufation concerning any of
the offences comprized in that fanguinary ftatute, except
?n the oath of twelve perfons before commiflioners autho-
rized for the purpofe; and that no perfon fhould be ar-
retted or committed to ward for any fuch offence before
he was indicted. Any preacher, accufed of fpeaking in
his fermon contrary to thefe articles, muft be indicted
within forty days.
The king always experienced the limits of his autho*
rity, whenever he demanded fubfidies, however moderate,
from the parliament; and, therefore, not to hazard a re-
Z 35 Hen, VIII, c. la. h2S Hen. VM. c f I.
R 2 fufal,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 258/481
244 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c *"* A p *
fufalj he made no mention this feafon of a fupply : BuCX X A 1 1 1 .J
i——v—*as his wars both in France and Scotland, as well as
'544* his ufual prodigality, had involved him in great expence,
he had recouife to other methods of filling his exchequer.
Notwithstanding the former abolition of his debts, he yet
required new loans from his fubjects : And he enhanced
gold from forty-five (hillings to forty-eight an ounce ;
and filver from three (hillings and nine pence to four (hil-
lings.Flis
pretencefor this innovation, was to prevent
the monev from being exported ;as if that expedient
could anywife ferve the purpofe. He even coined fome
bafe money, and ordered it to be current by proclamation.
He named commiflioners for levying a benevolence, and
he extorted about feventy thoufand pounds by this expe-
dient. Read, alderman of London *, a man fomewhat
advanced in years, having refufed to contribute, or not
coming up to the expectation of the commiflioners, was
inrolled as a foot-foldier in the Scottifh wars, and was
there taken prifoner. Roach, who had been equally re-
fractory, was thrown into prifon, and obtained not his
liberty but by paying a large compofitionk
. Thefe
powersof the
prerogative (whichat that time
pafTedun-
questioned), the compelling of any man to ferve in any
office, and the imprifoning of any man during pleafure,
not to mention the practice of extorting loans, rendered
the fovereign in a manner, abfolute mafter of the perfon
and property of every individual.
Early this year the king fent a fleet and army to in-
vade Scotland. The fleet confided of near two hundred
vefFels, and carried on board ten thoufand men. Dud-
ley lord Lille commanded the fea-forces ; the earl of
Hertford the land. The troops were difembarked near
Leithj and after difperfing a fmall body which oppofed
i Herbert. Stowe> v
p, 58s. Baker, p. 292,k Goodwin's Annals, Stovve, p. 5SS.
them,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 259/481
HENRY VIII. 245
them, they took that town without refinance, and then c ! H. a p.J AX.iki.il.
marched to Edinburgh. The gates were foon beaten ^-^^jdown (for little or no refiftancc was made) ; and the J 544»
Englifn firft pillaged, and then let fire to the city. The
regent and cardinal were not prepared to oppofe fo great a
force, and they fled to Stirling. Hertford marched east-
ward ; and being joined by a new body under Evers, war-
den of the eaft marches, he laid wafte the whole country,
burned and deftroyed Haddington and Dunbar, then re-
treated into England ; having loft only forty men in the
whole expedition. The earl of Arran collected fome
forces ; but finding that the Engl.ilh were already depart-
ed, he turned them againft Lenox, who was juirly fuf-
pected of a correfpondence with the enemy. That noble-
man, after making fome refiftance, was obliged to fly
into England ; where Henry fettled a penflon on him,
and even gave him his niece, lady Margaret Douglas, in
marriage. In return, Lenox ftipulated conditions, by
which, had he been able to execute them, he muft have
reduced his country to total fervitude '.
Henry'spolicy
was blamed in this fudden and violent
incurfion ; by which he inflamed the paflions of the Scots,
without fubduing their fpirit; and it was commonly faid,
that he did too much, if he intended to folicit an alliance,
and too little, if he meant a conqueftm
. But the reafon
of his recalling the troops fo foon,' was his eagernefs
to carry on a projected enterprize againft France, in which
he intended to employ the whole force of his kingdom.Fie had concerted a plan with the emperor, which threat-
ened the total ruin of that monarchy, and muft, as a ne-
cefTary confequence, have involved the ruin of England.Thefe two princes had agreed to invade France with
forces amounting to above a hundred thoufand men :
Henry engagedto fet out from Calais : Charles from the
1 Rymer, vol.xv. p. 23. 29.m Herbert. Burnet.
R 3 Low-
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 260/481
2|6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP. Low-countries : They were to enter on no fiegre ; butxxxin.
,
J & > .
*
^ —'leavingall the frontier towns behind
them,to march di-
l SW redly to Paris, where they were to join their forces,
and thence to proceed to the entire conqueft of the king-dom. Francis could not oppofe, to thefe formidable pre-
parations, much above forty thoufand men.
14th July. Henry, having appointed the queen regent during his
Campaign a bf e nce, pafTed over to Calais with thirty thoufand men,in France..
accompanied by the dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, fitza-
lan earl of Arundel, Vere earl of Oxford, the earl of Sur,
rey, Paulet lord St John, lord Ferrers of Chartley, lord
Mountjoy, lord Grey of Wilton, Sir Anthony Brown,Sir Francis Bryan, and the moft flouriming nobility and
gentry of his kingdom. The Englifh army was foon
joined by the count de Buren, admiral of Flanders, with tenthoufand foot, and four thoufand horfe ; and the whole
compofed an army, which nothing on that frontier was
able (o refift. The chief force of the French armies was
drawn to the fide of Champagne, in order to oppofe the
Imperialifts.
The emperor, with an army of near fixty thoufand
men, had taken the field much earlier than Henry; and
not to lofe time, while he waited for the arrival of his
confederate, he fat down before Luxembourg, which was
furrendered to him : He thence proceeded to Commercyon the Meufe, which he took : Ligny met with the fame
fate : He next laid fiege to St. Difier on the Marne, which,
thougha weak
place, madea
brave refiftance, under thecount of Sancerre, the governor, and the fiege was pro*tracked beyond expectation.
The emperor was employed before this town at the
time the Englifh forces were affembled in Picardy. Henry,either tempted by the defencelefs condition of the French
frontier, or thinking that the emperor had fir ft broken his
engagement, by forming ficges, or, perhaps, forefeeing at
laft the dangerous confequences of entirely fubduing the
8 French
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 261/481
HENRY VIII. 247
French power, infterd of marching forward to Paris, fat c H A P.
XXXIII,down before Montreuil and
Boulogne.Th^ duke of Nor- \
folk commanded the army before Montreuil : The kingJ 544«
himfelf that before Boulogne. Vervin was governor of
the latter place, and under him Philip Corfe, a brave old
foldier, who encouraged the garrifon to defend themfelves
to the laft extremity againft the Englifh. He was killed t .^ Scpt ,
during the courfe of the fiege, and the town was imme-
diately furrendered to Henry by the cowardice of Vervin ;
who was afterwards beheaded for this difhonourable capi-
tulation.
During the courfe of this fiege, Charles had taken St.
Difier; and Ending the feafon much advanced, he beganto hearken to a treaty of peace with France, fince all his
fchemes forfubduing
thatkingdom
werelikely
toprove
abortive. In order to have a pretence for deferring his
ally, he fent a meilenger to the Englifh camp, requiring
Henry immediately to fulfil his engagements, and to meet
him with his army before Paris. Henry replied, that he
was too far engaged in the fiege of Boulogne to raife it
with honour, and that the emperor himfelf had firfr.
broken the concert by befieging St. Difier. This anfwer
ferved Charles as a fufficient reafon for concluding a peace
with Francis, at Crepy, where no mention was made ofl8th Sf P ts
England. He ftipulated to give Flanders as a dowry to
his daughter, whom he agreed to marry to the duke of
Orleans, Francis's fecond fon ; and Francis, in return>
withdrew his troops from Piedmont and Savoy, and re-
nounced all claim to Milan, Naples, and other territo-
ries in Italy. This peace, fo advantageous to Francis,
was procured, partly by the decifive victory obtained in
the beginning of the campaign by the count of Anguyenover the Imperialists at Cerifolles in Piedmont, partly bythe emperor's great defire to turn his arms againft the
proteftant princes in Germany. Charles ordered his
R 4 troops
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 262/481
248 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c^, f: T
p *
troops to feparate from the Engliih in Picardy ; and
i••
j-
*'•
i Henry, finding himfelf obliged to raife the fiege of Mon-*544- treuil, returned into England. This campaign ferved,
3 ui ej , ^ ^ e populace, as matter of great triumph ; but all
L men of fenfe concluded, that the king had, as in all his
• former military enterprizes, made, at a great expence, an-
acquisition, which was of no importance.
The "war with Scotland, meanwhile, was conducted
Feebly, and with various fuccefs. Sir Ralph Evers, now*
lord Evers, and Sir Bryan Latoun, made an inroad into
that kingdom -,and having laid wade the counties of
Tiviotdale and the Merfe, they proceeded to the abbeyof Coldingham, which they took poiTeilion of, and forti-
fied. The governor afTembled an army of eight thoufand
•men, in order to diilodge them from this poll; but he had
no fooner opened his batteries before the place, than a fud-
den panic feized him ;he left the ai my, and fled to Dunbar.
He complained of the mutiny of his troops, and pretended
apprehensions left they fhould deliver him into the hands
of the Engliih : But his own unwarlike fpirit was gene-
rally believed to have been the motive of this difhonour-
ahle flight. The Scottifh army upon the departure oftheir general, fell into confufion ; and had not Angus,with a few of his retainers, brought off the cannon, and
protected their rear, the Englifh might have gained great
advantages over them. Evers, elated with this fuccefs,
boafted to Henry, that he had conquered all Scotland to
the Forth ; and he claimed a reward for this importantfcrvice. The duke of Norfolk, who knew with what
difficulty fuch acquifiticns would be maintained againffc
a warlike enemy, advifed the king to grant him, as his
reward, the conquefls of which he boafted fo highly.The next inroad made by the Engliih, {hewed the va-
nity of Evers's hopes. This general led about five thou-
Vja
4: fand men into Tiviotdale, and was employe^ in ravaging
that
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 263/481
HENRY Vllf. 249
that country; when intelligence was brought him, that c hap.XXXJIf
fome Scottifh forces appeared near the abbey of Melrofs. <_.• ••*
i
Angus had roufed the governor to more activity; and a ^^s-
proclamation being iflued for afTembling the troops of the
neighbouring counties, a confiderable body had repaired
thither to oppofe the enemy. Norman Lefly, {on of
the earl of Rothes, had alfo joined the army with fome
voluntiers from Fife; and he infpiredcourage
into the
whole, as well by this accefHon of force, as by his per-
fonal bravery and intrepidity. In order to bring their
troops to the necefHty of a fteady defence, the Scottifh
leaders ordered all their cavalry to difmount; and theyrefolved to wait, on fome high grounds near Ancram, the
aiTault of the Englifh, The Englifh, whofe pad fuccefies
had taught them too much to defpife the enemy, thought,when they law the Scottifh horfes led off the field, that
the whole army was retiring ; and they haftened to attack
them. The Scots received them in good order; and be-
ing favoured by the advantage of the ground, as well as
by the furprize of the Englifh, who expected no refin-
ance,they
foonput
them.toflight,
andpurfued
them with
confiderable flaughter. Evers and Latoun were both
killed, and above a thoufand men were made prifoners,
In order to fupport the Scots in this war, Francis, fome
time after, fent over a body of auxiliaries, to the numberof three thoufand five hundred men, under the commandof Montgomery, lord of Lorges
k. Reinforced by thefe
fuccours, the governor aiTembled an army of fifteen
thoufand men at Haddington, and marched thence to
ravage the eaft borders of England. He laid all wafTe
wherever he came ; and having met with no confiderable
refinance, he retired into his own country, and difband-
ed his army. The earl of Hertford, in revenge, com-mitted ravages on the middle and weft marches ; and the
k Buchanan, lib, 15, Drummondi
wtr
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 264/481
2 <3 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, war on both fides was fienalized rather by the ills inflicts
\ ed on the enemy, than by any confiderable advantage
»5*5« gained by either party.
The war likewife between France and England was
not diftinguifhed this year by any memorable event,
Francis had equipped a fleet of above two hundred fail,
befides gallies ; and having embarked fome land-forces
on board, he fent them to make a defcent in Englandl
.
They failed to the Ifle of Wight, where they found the
Englifh fleet lying at anchor in St. Helen's. It confuted
not of above a hundred fail ; and the admiral thoughtit moft advifable to remain in that road, in hopes of
drawing the French into the narrow channels and the
rocks, which were unknown to them. The two fleets
cannonaded each other for two days ; and except the
finking of the Mary Rofe, one of the largeft fhips of the
Englifh fleet, the damage on both fides was inconfider*
able.
. Francis's chief intention, in equipping fo great a
fleet, was to prevent the Englifh from throwing fuccours
into Boulogne, which he refolved to befiege ; and for that
purpofe, he ordered a fort to be built, by which he in-
tended to block up the harbour. After a confiderable
lofs of time and money, the fort was found fo ill con-
ftru&ed, that he was obliged to abandon it ; and thoughhe had aflembled, en that frontier, an army of near
forty thoufand men, he was not able to effect any con-
fiderable enterprize.Henry,
in order to defend his pof-
feflions in France, had levied fourteen thoufand Ger-
mans; who, having marched to Fleurines in the bifhop-
ric of Liege, found that they could advance no farther.
The emperor would not allow them a paffage through his
dominions : They received intelligence of a fuperior army
'
Belcair* Mi moirti du Bcllay.
on
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 265/481
HENRY VIII. 251
on the fide of France ready to intercept them : Want of c H a p^XXXIII
occupation and of pay fcon produced a mutiny among<. '«
them : And having feized the Englifh commifTaries as a J 545*
fecurity for arrears, they retreated into their own coun-
try. There feems to have been fome want of forefight in
this expenfive armament.
The great expence of thefe two wars, maintained by 2 3 dNo »*to
r .J A parlia.
Henry, obliged him to fummon a new parliament. The menucommons granted him a fubfidy, payable in two years,
of two (hillings a pound on land n: The fpirituality
voted him fix millings a pound. But the parliament,
apprehenfive left more demands fliould be made upon
them, endeavoured to fave themfelves by a very extraor-
dinary liberality of other people's property : By one
vote they beftowed on the king all the revenues of the
univerfities, as well as of the chauntries, free chapels °,
and hofpitals. Henry was pleafed with this conceflion,
as it encreafed his power; but he had no intention to
rob learning of all her endowments ; and he foon took
care to inform the univerfities, that he meant not to
touch their revenues. Thus thefe ancient and celebrated
eftablifhments owe their exiftence to the generofity of the
king, not to the protection of this fervile and proftitute
parliament.
The proftitute fpirit of the parliament farther appeared
in the preamble of a ftatute P; in which they recognize
n Thofe who pofTcfled goods or money, above five pound and below
ten, were to pay eight pence a pound : Thole above ten pound, a Shil-
ling.° A chauntry was a little, church, chapel, or particular altar in fome ca-
thedral church, &c. endowed with lands or other revenues for the main-
tam-ince of one or mere prierb, daily to fay mafs or perform divine fervice,
for the ufe of ihe founders, or fuch others as they appointed : Free chapels
v^-ere independant on any church, and endowed ffr much the fame purpofe as
ihe former. Jacob's Law Dic~t.
P 37 Hen. VIII. c. 17.
the
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 266/481
252 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, the king; to have always been, by the word of God, fu-
K V,
premehead of the church of England; and acknowledge,
1545. that archbifnops, bifhops, and other ecclefiaflical perfons,
have no manner of juri {"diction but by his royal mandate :
To him alone, fay they, and fuch perfons as he mall ap-
point, full power and authority is given from above to
hear and determine all manner of caufes ecclefiaflical,
and to correct all manner of herefies, errors, vices, and
fins whatfoever. No mention is here made of the con-currence of a convocation, or even of a parliament. His
proclamations are in effect acknowledged to have, not only
the force of law, but the authority of revelation ; and byhis royal power he might reguiate the actions of men, con-
troul their words, and even direct their inward fentiments
and opinions.
*4thDcc The king made in perfon a fpeech to the parliament
on proroguing them ; in which, after thanking them for
tfceir loving attachment to him, which, he faid, equalled
what was ever paid by their anceflors to any king of Eng-land, he complained of their diiTentions, difputes, and
-
animofities in religion. He told them, that the feveral
pulpits were become a kind of batteries againfl each other .
and that one preacher called another heretic and anabap-
tift, which was retaliated by the opprobrious appellations
of papift and hypocrite : That he had permitted his people
the ufe of the Scriptures, not in order to furnifh them with,
materials fordifputing and railing, but that he might enable
them to inform their confeiences and inftrucl their chil-
dren and families : That it grieved his heart to find how
that precious jewel was proftituted, by being introduced
into the converfation of every alehoufe and tavern, and
employed as a pretence for decrying the fpiritual and legal
paftors : And that he was forry to obferve, that the word
ofGod,
while it was theobject
of fo much anxious fpe-
cuiation, had very little influence on their practice; and
thatj
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 267/481
HENRY VIII. 253
that, though an imaginary knowledge fomuch abounded, chap.XXXIII
charitywas
daily goingto
decayv. The
king gave goodv
'
'_j
advice; but his own example, by encouraging fpeculatioaX 54S»
and difpute, was ill luted to promote that peaceable fub-
miflion of opinion, which he recommended.
Henry employed in military preparations the money 1545.
granted by parliament j and he Tent over the eerl of Hert-
ford, and lord Lille, the admiral, to Calais, with a bodyof nine thoufand men, two-thirds of which confided of
foreigners. Some fkirmifhes of fmall moment enfued
with the French ; and no hopes of any confiderable pro-
grefs could be entertained by either party, Henry, whofe
animofity againft Francis was not violent, had given fuf-
ficient vent to his humour by this fhort war; and find-
ing, that, from his great encreafe in corpulence and de-
cay in ftrength, he could not hope for much longer life,
he was defirous of ending a quarrel, which might prove
dangerous to his kingdom during a minority. Francis
likewife, on his part, was not averfe to peace with Eng-land ; becaufe, having lately loft his fon, the duke of
Orleans, he revived his ancient claim upon Milan, and
forefaw, that hoftilities mud foon, on that account,
break out between him and the emperor. Commiffioners, ?t h June,
therefore, having met at Campe, a fmall place between Pe - Ce with
r^ -r • France andArdres and Gruilnes, the articles were foon agreed on, Sco;lanJ.
and the peace figned by them. The chief conditions
were, that Henry fhould retain Boulogne during eight
years, or till the former debt due by Francis fhould be
paid. This debt was fettled at two millions of livres,
befides a claim of 500,000 livres, which was afterwards
to be adjufted. Francis took care to comprehend Scot-
land in the treaty. Thus all that Henry obtained by a
war, which coft him above one million three hundred
q Hall, fol. 261, Herbert, p. 534,
£ and
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 268/481
254 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A P. and forty thoufand pounds fterling
r, was a bad and a charge-
*—- >!< —~* able fecurity for a debt* which was not a third of the value.
1546. The king, now freed from all foreign wars, had lei—
fure to give his attention to domeftic affairs ; particularly
to the eftablifhment of uniformity in opinion, on which
he was fo intent. Though he allowed an Englifli tranf-
lation of the Bible, he had hitherto been very careful to
keep the mafs in Latin ; but he was at laft prevailed on
to permit, that the Litany, a confiderable part of the
fervice, mould be celebrated in the vulgar tongue ; and
by this innovation, he excited anew the hopes of the re-
formers, who had been fomewhat difcouraged by the
fevere law of the fix articles. One petition of the new
Litany was a prayer to fave us from the tyranny of the
bijhop of Rome , andfro?n all his detejl able enormities* Cran-
mer employed his credit to draw Henry into farther inno-
vations ; and he took advantage of Gardiner's abfence,
who was fent on an embaffy to the emperor : But Gar-
diner, having written to the king, that, if he carried his
oppofition againft the catholic religion to greater extre-
mities, Charles threatened to break off all commerce with
him, the fuccefs of Cranmer's projects was for fome time
retarded. Cranmer loft this year the moft fincere and
powerful friend that he pofTeffed at court, Charles Bran-
don, duke of Suffolk: The queen-dowager of France,
confort to Suffolk, had died fome years before. This
nobleman is one inftance, that Henry was not altogether
incapable ofa cordial
and fteady friendfhip jand Suffolk
feems to have been worthy of the favour, which, from
his earlieft youth, he had enjoyed with his mafter. The
king was fitting in council when informed of Suffolk's
death ; and he took the opportunity both to exprefs his
own forrow for the lofs, and to celebrate the merits of
the deceafed. He declared, that, during the whole
* Herbert. Stowe.
courfc
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 269/481
HENRY VIII. 2S5
courfe of their friendfhip, his brother-in-law had ne- chap.ver made one
attemptto
injurean
adverfary, and hadnever whifpered a word to the difadvantage of any per-fon. " Is there any of you, my lords, who can fay as" much ?" When the king fubjoined thefe words, helooked round in all their faces, and faw that confufion,which the confcioufnefs of fecret guilt naturally threw
upon them s.
Cranmer himfelf, when bereaved of this fupport,was the more expofed to thofe cabals of the courtiers,
which the oppofition in party and religion, joined to the
ufual motives of intereft, rendered fo frequent amongHenry's minifters and counfellors. The catholics took
hold of the king by his paffion for orthodoxy ; and they
reprefented to him, that,if his
laudable zeal for inforce-
ing the truth met with no better fuccefs, it was altoge-ther owing to the primate, whofe example and encourage-ment were, in reality, the fecret fupports of herefy.
Henry, feeing the point at which they aimed, feigned a
compliance, and defired the council to make enquiry into
Cranmer's conduct ; promifing that, if he were found
guilty, he fhould be committed to prifon, and brought
to condign punifhment. Every body now confidered
the primate as loft ; and his old friends, from interefted
views, as well as the oppofite party, from animofity, be-
gan to (how him marks of neglect and difregard. Hewas obliged to ftand feveral hours among the lacqueys at
the door of the council-chamber, before he could be ad-mitted ; and when he was at laft called in, he was told,
that they had determined to fend him to the Tower.
Cranmer faid, that he appealed to the king himfelf; and
finding his appeal difregarded, he produced a ring, which
Henry had given him as a pledge of favour and protection.
The council were confounded ; and when they came be-
* Cokt's Inft. cap. 99,
fore
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 270/481
tsor.s.
2 5 5 HISTORY OF E N'G L A N D,
C H A P. fore the kino;, he reproved them in the fevered terns i
Lj and told them, that he was well acquainted with Cran-
mer's merit, as well as wich their malignity and envy :
But he was determined to crufh all their cabals, and to
teach them, by the fevereft difcipline, fmce gentle me-
thods were ineffe&ual, a more dutiful concurrence in pro-
moting his fervice. Norfolk, who was Cranmer's capital!
enemy, apologized for their conduct, and faid, that their-
onlyintention was to fet the
primate'sinnocence in a full
light, by bringing him to an open trial : And Henryobliged them all to embrace him. as a fi2;n of their cor-
dial reconciliation. The mild temper of Cranmer ren-
dered this agreement more fincere on his part, than is
ufual in fuch forced compliancesr
.
Terfecu- But though Henry's favour for Cranmer rendered
fruitlefs all accufations againft him, his pride and pee-
vifhnefs, irritated by his declining (rate of health, impelled
him to punifh with frefh feverity all others, who prefum-"
ed to entertain a different opinion from himfelf, particu-
larly in the capital point of the real prefence. Anne
Afcue, a young woman of merit as well as beauty ", who
had greatconnexions with the chief ladies at
court, andwith the queen herfeif, was accufed of dogmatizing on
that delicate article; and Henry, inftead of mewing in-
dulgence to the weaknefs of her fex and age, was but the
more provoked, that a woman mould dare to oppofe hjs
theological fentiments. She was prevailed on by Bon-
ner's menaces to make a feeming recantation; but me
qualified it with fome referves, which did not fatisfy that
zealous prelate. She was thrown into prifon, and {he there
employed herfeif in compofmg prayers and difcourfes, by
which (he fortified her refolution to endure the utmoft
extremity rather than relinquifh her religious principles.
t
Burnet, vol.i.
p. 343, 344, Anti}, Brit, in vita Cnnm,u Bale, Speed, 780.
She
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 271/481
HENRY VIII; 257
She even wrote to the king, and told him, that, as to c u A p<
the Lord's Supper, fne believed as much as Chrift him- t
vj
ielf had faid of it, and as much of his divine doctrine as 1 54 r> «
the catholic church had required: But while die could
not be brought to acknowledge an aiil-nt to the kind's
explications, this declaration availed her nothing, and
was rather regarded as a frefh infult. The chancellor,
Wriothefely, who had fucceeded Audley, and who was
much attached to the catholic party, was fent to examineher with regard to her patrons at court, and the greatJadies who were in correfpondence with her : But fnz
maintained a laudable fidelity to her Friends, and would
confefs nothing. She was put to the torture in ths
moil barbarous manner, and continued ftill refolute
in preferving fecrecy. Some authors v/ add an extra-
ordinary circumftance : That the chancellor, who ftood
by> ordered the lieutenant of the Tower to ftretch the
rack ftill farther 3 but that officer refufed compliance:The chancellor menaced him ; but met with a new re-
fufal : Upon which that magiitrate, who was other-
wife a perfon of merit, but intoxicated with religious
zeal, put his own hand to the rack, and drew it Co vio-
lently that he almoft tore her body afunder. Ker con-
stancy ftill furpafTed the barbarity of her perfecutors, and
they found all their efforts to be baffled. She was then
condemned to be burned alive ; and being (o diilocated bythe rack, that {he could not ftand, (lie was carried to the
ftake in a chair.Together
with her, were conducted
Nicholas Belenian, a prieft, John Laffels, of the king's
houfehold, and John Adams a tailor, who had been con-
w Fox, vol. ii. p. 578. Sp*ed, p. 7S0. Baker, p. 299. But Enrnet
queftions the truth of this cJrcurrftance ; Fox, however, tranferibes her own
paper, where fhe relates it. I mud add, ;n juftice to the king, that he dif-
approved of Wriotheiely's conduct, and commended the lieutenant.
Vol, IV. S demned
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 272/481
2 5 8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.tf A Pi demned for the fame crime to the fame punifhment. TheV
'
were all tied to the ftake ; and in that dreadful fituation,
the chancellor fent to inform thern, that their pardon was
ready drawn arid figned, and fhould inftantly be given
them, if they would merit it by a recantation. Theyonly regarded this offer as a new ornament to their crown
of martyrdom ; and they faw with tranquillity the execu-
tioner kindle the flames, which confumed them. Wrio-
thefelydid not confider, that this public and noted fitua-
tion interefted their honour the more to maintain a fteady
perfeverance.
Though the fecrecy and fidelity of Anne Afcue
laved the queen from this peril, that princefs foon after
fell into a new danger, from which (he narrowly efcaped.
An ulcer had broken out in the king's leg, which, added
to his extreme corpulency and his bad habit of body,
began both to threaten his life, and to render him,
even more than ufually, peevifh and pafHonate. The
queen attended him with the moft tender and dutiful
care, and endeavoured, by every foothing art and com-
pliance, to allay thofe gufts of humour, to which he
Was become fo fubjedt. His favourite topic of con-
verfation was theology ; and Catherine, whofe good
fenfe enabled her to difcourfe on any fubjecl:, was fre-
quently engaged in the argument; and being fecretly
inclined to the principles of the reformers, flie un-
warily betrayed too much of her mind on thefe occa-
sions. Henry, highly provoked, that fhe fhould pre-
fume to differ from him, complained of her obftinacy
to Gardiner, who gladly laid hold of the opportunity to
inflame the quarrel. He praifed the king's anxious con-
cern for preferving the orthodoxy of his fubjedts; and
reprefented, that the more elevated the perfon was who
was chaftifed, and the more near to his perfon, the greater
terrgr would the example ilrike into every one, and the
mors
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 273/481
HENRY VIII. 259
more glorious would the facriflce appear to poflerity.c H
,A p *
Thechancellor, being confulted,
wasengaged by
reli- ; j
gious zeal to fecond thefe topics ; and Henry, hurried J 54 6 »
on by his own impetuous temper, and encouraged by his
counfellors, went fo far as to order articles of impeach-
ment to be drawn up againft his confort. Wriothefelyexecuted his commands ; and foon after brought the
paper to him to be figned : For as it was high treafon to
throw flander upon the queen, he might otherwife have
been queftioned for his temerity. By fome means, this
important paper fell into the hands of one of the queen's
friends, who immediately carried the intelligence to
her. She was fenfible of the extreme danger, to which,
fhe was expofed ; but did not defpair of being able,
byher
prudenceand addrefs, flill to elude the efforts
of her enemies. She paid her ufual vifit to the king,
and found him in a more ferene difpofition than fhe
had reafon to expecl. He entered on the fubjecl,
which was fo familiar to him \ and he feemed to chal-
lenge her to an argument in divinity. She gently de-
clined the converfation, and remarked, that fuch pro-
found fpeculations were ill fuited to the natural imbecil-
lity of her fex. Women, fhe faid, by their firft creation,
were made fubjecT: to men : The male was created after
the image of God ; the female after the image of the
male : It belonged to the hufband to chufe principles for
his wife ; the wife's duty was, in all cafes, to adopt im-
plicitly the fentiments of her hufband:
And as to herfelf,it was doubly her duty, being bleft with a hufband, who
was qualified, by his judgment and learning, not only to
chufe principles for his own family, but for themoft wife
and knowing of every nation. " Not fo 1 by St. Mary,"
replied the king,"
you are now become a doctor, Kate ;
<c and better fitted to give than receive inftru&ion." She
meekly replied, that fhe was fenfible how little fhe was in-
S 2 titled
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 274/481
2 6o HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c H a P.
t j t l cc j t0 thcfc praifes ; that though fhe ufually declined notxxxmi.
./any converfation, however fubiime, when propofed by
*54*« his maieftv, Tne well knew, that her conceptionscould
ferve to no other purpofe than to give him a little mo-
mentary amufement ; that fhe found the converfation apt
to languifli when not revived by fome oppofition, and fhe
had ventured fometimes to feign a contrariety of fenti-
ments, in order to give him the pleafure of refuting her ;
and that fhe alfo purpofed, by this innocent artifice, to
engage him into topics, whence, fhe had obferved by fre-
quent experience, that fhe reaped profit and inftruttion.
" And is it fo, fv/eetheart r" replied the king," then are
" we perfecl friends again." He embraced her with
great affeclion, and fent her away with affurances of his
protection and kindnefs. Her enemies, who knew nothing
of this fudden change, prepared next dayto
conveyher
to the Tower, purfuant to the king's warrant. Henry and
Catherine were converfing amicably in the garden, when
the chancellor appeared with forty of the purfuivants.
The king fpoke to him at fome difbnce from her ; and
feemed to cxpoflulate with him in the feverefl manner :
She even overheard the appellations of knave, fool,and
beoji, which he liberally beftowed upon that magiftrate ;
and then ordered him to depart his prefence. She after-
wards interpofed to mitigate his anger : He faid to
her, " Poor foul ! you know not how ill intitled this
" man is to your good offices." Thenceforth, the queen,
having narrowly efcaped fo great a danger, was careful
not to offend Henry's humour by any contradiction ;and
Gardiner, whofe malice had endeavoured to widen the
breach, could never afterwards regain his favour and
crood opinion *.
x Burnet, vol. 1. p. 3 44. Herbert, p. 560. f pseJ, p. 7S0. Fox's Ads
and Monuments, vol, ii. p. 50,
But
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 275/481
HENRY VIII. 261
But Henry's tyrannical dif-cfition, Toured by MCyyv^ n
P *
health, burft out foon after to the deftruclion of a man,' v1
who pofTeiTed a much fupcrior rank to that of Gardiner. j 5t 5 -
The duke of Norfolk and his father, during this whole
reign, and even a part of the foregoing, had been re-
garded as the greateft fubjecls in the kingdom, and had
rendered conhderable fcrvice to the crown. The duke
himfeif had in his youth acquired reputation by naval
enterprizes : He had much contributed to the victory
gained over the Scots at Flouden : He bad fuppreffed a
dangerous rebellion in the North : And he had alwaysdone his part with honour in all the expeditions againft
France. Fortune feemed to confpire with his own in-
duftry, in raifmg him to the greateft elevation. Fromthe favours heaped on him
bythe crown, he had ac-
quired an immcnfe efrate : The king had fucceffivcly
been married to two of his nieces ; and the kind's r.atu-
ral fon, the duke of Richmond, had married his daughter :
Befides his defcent from the ancient family of the Mou-
brays, by which he was allied to the throne, he had
efpoufed a daughter of the duke of Buckingham, who
was defcended by a female from Edward III. : And as
he was believed ftill to adhere fecretly to the ancient
religion, he was regarded, both abroad and at home,as the head of the catholic party. But all thefe circum-
ftances, in proportion as they exalted the duke, provokedthe jealoufy of Henry; and he forefaw danger, duringhis fon's minority, both to the public
tranquillity,and
to the new ecclefnftical fyftem, from the attempt- c I
fo potent a fubjec"r. But nothing tended more to cx-
pofe Norfolk to the king's difpleafure, than the preju-
dices, which Henry had entertained againft the earl of
Surrev, fon of that nobleman.
Surrey was a young man of the moft promifing
hopes, and had diillnguiihed himfeif by every accom-S 3 pli&ment,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 276/481
262 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, pliflinient, which became a fcholar, a courtier, and a fol-
XXXIII.i j Hip.r. He excelled in all the military exercife?, which
1546. were then in requeft : He encouraged the fine arts by his
patronage and example : He had made fome fuccefsful
attempts in poetry j and being fmitten with the romantic
gallantry of the age, he celebrated the praifes of his mif-
trefs, by his pen and his lance, in every mafque and
tournament. His fpirit and ambition were equal to his
talents and hisquality
; and he did notalways regulate
his conduct by the caution and referve, which his fitua-
tion required. He had been left governor of Bologne,when that town was taken by Henry ; but though his
perfonal bravery was unqueftioned, he had been unfor-
tunate in fome rencounters with the French. The king,
fomewhat difpleafed with his ccnducl, had fent over
Hertford to command in his place ; and Surrey was fo
imprudent as to drop fome menacing exprefiions againft
the miniiterSj on account of this affront, which was put
upon him. And as he had refufed to marry Hertford's
daughter, and even waved every other propofal of mar-
riage ; Henry imagined, that he had entertained views
ofefpoufing
thelady Mary ;
and he wasinttantly
deter-
mined to reprefs, by the moft fevere expedients, fo dan-
gerous an ambition.
Actuated by all thefe motives, and perhaps influ-
enced by that old difguft, with which the ill conduct of
Catherine Howard had infpired him againfr. her whole fa-
mily, he gave private orders to arreil Norfolk and Sur-
rey ;
'
and they were on the fame day confined in the
izthDec. Tower. Surrey being a commoner, his trial was the
more expeditious j and as to proofs, neither parliaments
1547. nor juries fecm ever to have given the leaf} attention to
them in any caufe of the crown, duiing this whole reio-n.
•Execution He was accufed of entertaining in his family fome Ita-
of Sw'e"! lians who wcre I ufP eclcd t0 be <P ics y * Servant of his hadpaid
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 277/481
HENRY VIII. 263
paid a vJfit to cardinal Pole in Italy, whence he was/*/- ^£ x*
nP -
tecled ofholding
acorrefpondence
with that obnoxious ^^_^_^
prelate ; he had quartered the arms of Edward the Con- J 547»
feflbr on his fcutcheon, which made him be fufpeflcd of
afpiring to the crown, though both he and his anceftors
had openly, during the courfe of many years, maintained
that practice, and the heralds had even juftified it by their
authority. Thefe were the crimes, for which a jury, not-
withstanding his eloquent and Spirited defence, condemnedthe earl of Surrey for high treafon-; and their fentence
was foon after executed upon him.
The innocence of the duke of Norfolk was liill, if Attainder of
poffible, more apparent than that of his fon j and his fer- Kwfolk.
vices to the crown had been greater. His dutchefs, with
whom helived on bad
terms,had been fo bafe as to
carryintelligence to his enemies of all {he knew againft him :
Elizabeth Holland, a miftrefs of his, had been equally
fubfervient to the defign of the court : Yet with all thefe
advantages his accufers difcovered no greater crime, than
his once faying, that the king was fickly, and could not
hold out long ; and the kingdom was likely to fall into
diforders, through the diverfity of religious opinions. Hewrote a pathetic letter to the king, pleading his paft
fervices, and protefting his innocence : Soon after, he
embraced a more proper expedient for appeafing Henry,
by making a fubmiffion and confeffion, fuch as his ene-
mies required : But nothing could mollify the unrelent-
ing temperof the
king.He afTembled a
parliament,as
14th Jan*the fureft and moil expeditious inftrument of his tyranny ;
and the houfe of peers, without examining the priloner,
without trial or evidence, pafTed a bill of attainder againft
him, and fent it down to the commons. Cranmer*
though engaged for many years in an oppofite party to
Norfolk, and though he had received many and great in-
S 4 juries
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 278/481
264 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.A
r
p -
juries from him, would have no hand in fo unjuft. a pro-
fecution ; and he retired to his feat at Croydon r. The
king was now approaching fad towards his end ; and
fearing left Norfolk fhould efcape him, he fent a meflageto the commons, by which he defired them to haften the
bill, on pretence, that Norfolk enjoyed the dignity of
earl marftial, and it was neceffary to appoint another, who
might officiate at the enfuing ceremony of inftalling his
fon prince of Wales. The obfequious commons obeyed
his directions, though founded on fo frivolous a pretence;
and the king, having affixed the royal affent to the bill
by commiffioners, i-Tued orders for the execution of Nor-
folk on the morning of the twenty-ninth of January.But news being carried to the Tower, that the king him-
felf had expired that night, the lieutenant deferred obey-
ing the warrant ; and it was not thought advifable by the
council to begin a new reign by the death of the greater!:
nobleman in the kingdom, v/ho had been condemned bya fenten.ce fo unjuft and tyrannical.
The king's health had long been in a declining flate ;
but for feveral days all thofe near him plainly faw his
endapproaching.
He was become fo froward, that no
one durft inform him of his condition ; and as fome
perfons, during this reign, had fufFered as traitors for
foretelling the king's death z, every one was afraid,
left, in the tranfports of his fury, he might, on this
pretence, rjunifh capitally the author of fuch friendly
intelligence. At laft, Sir Anthony Denny ventured
to difclofe to him the fatal fecret, and exhorted himto prepare for the fate, which was awaiting him. He
expr-effed bis refignation ; and defired that Cranmer
y Burnet, vol. i, p. 34S. Fox.
s Lanquet's Ep^ojne of Chronicles in the year 1541.
4 might
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 279/481
HENRY VIII. 265
might be fent for: But before the prelate arrived he c H A p .
XXXIII
was fpeechlefs, though he(till
ieemedto
retain hisv
jfenfes. Cranmer dc-fired him to p-ive fome fig-n of his '547*5 Death of
dying in the faith of Chrift : Ke fqueezed the prelate's the king.
hand, and immediately expired, after a reign of thirty—
feven years and nine months ; and in the fifty- fixth yearof his age.
The king had made his will near a month before his
demife; in which he confirmed the deflination of parlia-
ment, by leaving the crown firft to prince Edward, then
to the lady Mary, next to the lady Elizabeth : The two
princeiTes he obliged, under the penalty of forfeiting their
title to the crown, not to marry without confent of the
council, which he appointed for the government of his
minor fon. After his own children, he fettled the fuc-
cefiion on Frances Brandon, march i on efs of Dorfet, el-
der daughter of his lifter, the French queen ; then on
Eleanor, countefs of Cumberland, the fecond daughter.In paffing over the pofterity of the queen of Scots, his
elder fifter, he made ufe of the power obtained from par-
liament; but as he fubjoined, that, after the failure of the
French queen's pofterity, the crown mould defcend to the
next lawful heir, it afterwards became a queftion, whether
thefe words could be applied to the Scottifh line. It was
thought, that thefe princes were not the next heirs after
the houfe of Suffolk, but before that houfe ; and that
Henry, by exprefling himfelf in this manner, meant en-
tirely to exclude them. The late injuries, which he had re-
ceived from the Scots, had irritated him extremely againft
that nation ; and he maintained to the laft that character
of violence and caprice, by which his life had been fo
much diftinguifhed. Another circumftance of his will
may fuggeft the fame reflection with regard to the ftrangecontrarieties of his temper and conduct : He left money
for
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 280/481
2 65 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP. f or malTes to be faid for delivering his foul from purga-XXXIII.
/' '
i tory ; and though he deftroyed all thofe institutions, efta-?
i547« blifhed by his anceftors and others, for the benefit of their
fouls ; and had even left the doctrine of purgatory doubt-
ful in all the articles of faith, which he promulgated^
during his later years ; he was yet determined, when the
hour of death was approaching, to take care, at leafr,
of his own future repofe, and to adhere to the fafer fide
of thequefrion
3.
HiscLarac- It is difficult to give a juft fummary of this prince's
qualities : He was fo different from himfelf in different
parts of his reign, that, as is well remarked by lord Her r
bert, his hiftory is his beft character and defcription. The
abfolute, uncontrouled authority which he maintained at
home, and the regard which he acquired among foreign
nations, are circumftances, which entitle him, in fome
degree, to the appellation of a great prince ; while his ty-
ranny and barbarity exclude him from the character of
a good one. He poiTefTed, indeed, great vigour of mind,
which qualified him for exercifing dominion over men ;
courage, intrepidity, vigilance, inflexibility : And though
thefe qualities lay not always under the guidance of a regu-lar and folid judgment, they were accompanied with good
parts, and an extenfive capacity j and every one dreaded a
conteft with a man, who was known never to yield or to
forgive, and who, in every controverfy, was determined,
either to ruin himfelf or his antagonift. A catalogue of
his vices would comprehend many of the worft qualities
incident to human nature : Violence, cruelty, profufion^
rapacity, injuftice, obftinacy, arrogance, bigotry, pre-
sumption, caprice : But neither was he fubject to all thefe
vices in the mpft extreme degree, nor was he, at inter-
2 See his will in Fuller, Keylin, and Rymer, p, no, There is no reason-
able ground to fufpeft its authenticity,
valsj
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 281/481
HENRY VIIL ity
vals, altoo-etherdeftitute of virtues : He was fmcere, open, c H A f, »
-,? XXX J ii.
gallant, liberal, and capable at lean 1 of a temporary friend- <. ^.^j
fhip and attachment, in this refpect he was unfortunate, "5v*
that the incidents of h ;s reign ferved to difplay his faults
in their full light : The treatment, which he met with
from the court of Rome, provoked him to violence ; the
danger of a revolt from his fuperflitious fubjects, fecmed
to require the moft extreme feveritv. But it muft, at the
lame time, be acknowledged, that his fituation tended to
throw an additional luftre on what was great and magna-nimous in his character : The emulation between the em-
peror and the French king rendered his alliance, notwith-
standing his impolitic conduct, of great importance iifc
Europe : The extcnfive powers of his prerogative, and
the fubmiffive, not to fay flaviih, difpofition of his par-
liaments, made it the more eafy for him to afFume and
maintain that entire dominion, by which his reign 19 fo
much diffinguifhed in the Englifh hiftory.
It may feem a little extraordinary, that, notwithftand-
ing his cruelty, his extortion, his violence, his arbitrary
administration, this prince notonly acquired
the regard
of his fubjects ; but never was the object of their hatred :
He Teems even in fome degree to have poffefled, to the
laft, their love and affection b. His exterior qualities
were advantageous, and fit to captivate the multitude :
His magnificence and perfonal bravery rendered him rllufc
trious in vulgar eyes : And it may be laid, with truth,
that the Englifh in that age were fo thoroughly fubdued,
that, like eaftern flaves, they were inclined to admire
thofe acts of violence and tyranny, which were exercifed
over themfel yes, and at their own expence.
With regard to foreign {fates, Henry appears \on<? to
have fupported an intercourfe of friendfhip with Francis,
bStrype, vol. i. p. 339,
more
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 282/481
268 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap, more fincere and difinterefled than ufually takes place
XXXIII.j between neighbouring princes. Their common jealoufy
I 547- of the emperor Charles, and fome refemblance in their
characters (though the com pari Ton fets the French mo-
narch in a very fuperior and advantageous light), ferved
as the cement of their mutual amity. Francis is faid to
have been afFec~led with the king's death, and to have ex-
prefTed much regret for the lofs. His own health began
to decline : He foretold, that he fhould not long fur-
vive his friend c: And he died in about two months after
him.Mifceliane- There were ten parliaments fummoned by Henryous traniac- J J
tions. VIII. and twenty- three fefnons held. The whole time,
in which thefe parliaments fat during this long reign, ex-
ceeded not three years and a half. It amounted not to a
twelvemonth during the firft twenty years. The innova-
tions in religion obliged the king afterwards to call thefe
affemblies mere frequently : But though thefe were the
moft important tranfactions that ever fell under the cog-nizance of parliament, their devoted fubmiflion to
Henry's will, added to their earner! defire of foon return-
ing to their country-feats, produced a quick difpatch ofthe bills, and made the feflions of fhort duration. All the
king's caprices were, mdeed, blindly complied with, and
no regard was paid to the fafety or liberty of the fubjeel:.
Eefides the violent profecution of whatever he was pleafed
to term herefy, the laws of treafon were multiplied be-
yond all former precedent. Even words to the difparage-
ment of the king, queen, or royal ifTue, were fubjec~ted
to that penalty ; and fo little care was taken in framing
thefe rigorous flatutes, that they contain obvious contra-
dictions ; infomuch that, had they been ftriclly exe-
cuted, Qvcry man, withoirt exception, muft have fallen
c LeThou.
under
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 283/481
HENRY VIII. 269
under the penalty of treafon. By one ftatute d, for i n - C
V y^ T
p *
fiance, it was declared treafon to aiTert the validity ofu—^^^the king's marriage, either with Catherine of Arragon,
, 547«
or Anne Boleyn : 3y another % it was treafon to fay
any thing to the difparagement or ilander of the prin-
ceffes, Mary and Elizabeth ; and to call them fpurious
would, no doubt, have been conftrucd to their (lander. Nor
would even a profound filence, with regard to thefe deli-
cate points, be able to fave a perfon from fuch penalties.
For by the former flatute, whoever refufed to anfwer
upon oath to any point contained in that acl:, was fub-
jecf.ed to the pains of treafon. The king, therefore,
needed only propofe to any one a queftion with regard
to the legality of either of his firft marriages : If the
perfon were filent, he was a traitor by law:
If he anfwer-ed, either in the negative or in the affirmative, he was
no lefs a traitor. So monltrous were the inconfiitencies,
which arofe from the furious paflions of the king, and
the flavifli fubmiflion of his parliaments. It is hard to
fay, whether thefe contradictions were owing to Henry's
precipitancy, or to a formed defign of tyranny.It may not be improper to recapitulate whatever is
memorable in the ftatutes of this reip-n, whether with
regard to government or commerce : Nothing can bet-
ter (how the genius of the age than fuch a review of
the laws.
The abolition of the ancient religion much contribut-
ed to the regular execution of juftice. While the ca-tholic fuperftition fubfifted, there was no rJoflibility of
punifhing any crime in the clergy : The church would
not permit the magiftrate to try the offences of her mem-bers, and fhe could not herfelf inflict any civil penalties
upon them. But Henry reftrained thefe pernicious im-
d 28 Hen. VIII. c, 7. e 34> 3- Hen. VIII. c. 1.
munities :
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 284/481
270 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap, munitics : The privilege of clergv was aboliflied for the
XXX 'I.
, crimes of petty treafon, murder, and felony, to all under
ii47- the degree of a fubdeaconf
. But the former fuperftition
not only protected crimes in the clergy : It exemptedalfo the laity from punifhment, by affording them fhel-
ter in the churches and fanctuaries. The parliament
abridged thefe privileges. It was firft declared, that no
fanctuaries were allowed in cafes of high treafon s;
next, in thofe of murder,felony, rapes, burglary,
and
petty treafon h: And it limited them in other parti-
culars !. The farther progrefs of the reformation re-
moved all diftincticn between the clergy and other fub-
jects ; and alfo abclifhed entirely the privileges of fanc-
tuaries. Thefe confequences were implied in the ne-
glect of the canon law.
The only expedient employed to fupport the military
fpirit during this age, was the reviving and extending of
ibme old laws, enacted for the encouragement of archery,
on which the defence of the kingdom was fuppofed much
to depend. Every man was ordered to have a bow k:
Butts were ordered to be erected in every parifh*
: And
every bowyerwas
ordered,for each bow of
yewwhich he
made, to make two of elm or wich, for the fervice of
the common peoplem
. The ufe of crofs-bows and hand-
guns was alfo prohibitedn
. What rendered the EnglifTi
bowmen more formidable was, that they carried halberts
with them, bv which they were enabled, upon occafion,
to engage in clofe fight with the enemy °. Frequentmufters or arrays were alfo made of the people, even
during time of peace ; and all men of fubftance were
obliged to have a complete fuit of armour or harnefs, as
it was called p. The martial fpirit of the Englifh, dur-
f23 Hca. VIII. c. 1. S 26 Hen. VIII. c. 13.
h32 Hen.
VIII. c. 12. i 24 Hen. VIII. c. 14. *3 Hen. VIII. c. 3.
1 Ibid. m Ibid. n
3Hen. VII I. c.
13.Herbert.
p Hill, fol, 234. S-
owe, p. 5 '5. Hflilinglhedj p. 947,
ing
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 285/481
HENRY VIII. 271
ing that age, rendered this precaution, it was thought,(
^" X^ II
P *
fufficient for the defence of the nation; and as the king v, —v/
had then an abfolute power of commanding the fervice *54#-
of all his fubjec~ts, he could inftantly, in cafe of danger,
appoint new officers, and levy regiments, and collect an
army as numerous as he pleafed. When no faction or
divifion prevailed among the people, there was no foreign
power that ever thought of invading England. The
city of London alone could mufter fifteen thouland
men ^. Difcipline, however, was an advantage want-
ing to thofe troops ; though the garrifon of Calais was a
nurfery of officers ; and Tournay firft r, Boulogne after-
wards, ferved to encreafe the number. Every one, whoferved abroad, was allowed to alienate his lands without
paying anyfees *. A
general permiffionwas
grantedto
difpofe of land by will r. The parliament was fo little
jealous of its privileges (which indeed were, at that
time, fcarcely wr orth preferving), that there is an inftance
of one Strode, who, becaufe he had introduced into the
lower houfe fome bill regarding tin, was feverely treated
by the Stannery courts in Cornwal : Heavy fines were im-
pofed on him ; and upon his refufal to pay, he was throwninto a dungeon, loaded with irons, and ufed in fuch a
manner as brought his life in danger : Yet all the no-
tice which the parliament took of this enormity, even
in fuch a paultry court, was to enadr, that no man could
afterwards be queflioned for his conduct in parliament".
This prohibition, however, muft be fuppofedto
extendonly to the inferior courts : For as to the king, and pri-
vy-council, and ftar-charnber, they were fcarcely bound
by any law.
q Hall, fol. 235. Hollingfhed, p. 547. Stowe, p. 577.r
Hall,
fol. 68* s14 and 15 Hen. VIII. c. 15.
t34. and 35 Ken.
VIII. c. 5. 4 Hen. VIII. c. 8.
1 There
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 286/481
272 HISTORY OF EN GLANb.c j-r a P. Thrre is a bill of tonnage and poundao-e, which
XXXIII. . .° ' to '
^ .,/ mews what uncertain ideas the parliament had formed
*547- both of their own privileges and of the rights of the
fovcreignw
. This duty had been voted to every kino-
iince Henry IV, during the term of his own life only : Yet
Henry VIII. had been allowed to levy it fix years without
any law ;and though there had betn four parliaments
aflembled durino- that time, no attention had been eiven
either to
grantit to him regularly, or re /train him from
levying it At lad, the parliament refolved to give him
that fupply ; but even in this conceflion, they plainly
{how themfclves at a lofs to determine whether they
grant it, or whether he has a right of himfelf to levy it.
They fay, that the impofition was made to endure duringthe natural life of the late king, and no longer : Theyyet blame the merchants who had not paid it to the
prefent king : They obferve, that the law for tonnageand poundage was expired ; yet make no fcruple to call
that impofition the king's due : They affirm, that he had
fuftained great and manifold lofTes by thofe who had de-
frauded him of it ; and to provide a remedy, they vote
him thatfupply during
his life-time, and nolonger.
It is remarkable, that, notwithftanding this laft claufe,
all his fucceffors, for more than a century, perfevered
in the like irregular practice : If a practice may deferve
that epithet, in which the whole nation acquiefced, and
which gave no offence. But when Charles I. attempted
to continue in the fame courfe, which had now received
the fanction of many generations, fo much were the opi-
nions of men altered, that a furious tempefr was excited
by it ; and hiftorians, partial or ignorant, (till reprefent
this meafure as a moit violent and unprecedented enor-
mity in that unhappy prince.
w 6 Hen, VIII. c. 14.
The
1
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 287/481
HENRY VIII. 273
The klne was allowed to make laws for Wales, with- C,gA p -
to XXXIII.out confent of parliament
x. It was forgotten, that, v
t
with regard both to Wales and England, the limitation x 547-
was abolUhed by the ftatute, which gave to the royal
proclamations the force of laws.
The foreign commerce of England, during this age,
was moftiy confined to the Netherlands. The inha-
bitants of the Low-Countries bought the Eno;l;.(h com-
modities, and diftributed them into other parts of
Europe. Hence the mutual dependance of thofe coun-
tries on each Gther ; and the great lofs fuftained by both,
in cafe of a rupture. During all the variations of po-
litics, the fovereig-ns endeavoured to avoid coming to
this extremity ; and though the king ufuaily bore a great-*
er friendfhip to Francis, the nation always leaned towards
the emperor.
In 1528, hoftilities commenced between England and
the Low-Countries ; and the inconvenience was foon felt
on both fides. While the Flemings were not allowed to
purchafe cloth in England, the Englifh merchants could
not buy it from the clothiers, and the clothiers were ob-
liged to difmifs their workmen, who began to be tumul-
tuous for want of bread. The cardinal, to appeafe
them, fent for the merchants, and ordered them to buycloth as ufual : They told him, that they could not dif-
pofe of it as ufual ; and notwithstanding his menaces, he
could get no other anfwer from them y. An agreement
was at laft made to continue the commerce between theflates, even during war.
It was not till the end of this reip-n that anv fa I lads,
carrots, turnips, or other edible roots were produced in
England. The little of thefe vegetables, that was ufed,
was formerly imported from Holland and Flanders 2.
Queen Catherine, when (he wanted a fallad, was obliged
« 34 Hen. VIII. >' HjII, folia 174.z Aqderfon, vol. i. ?. 338-
Vol. IV. T- to
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 288/481
274 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c H a P. to difpatch a meflenger thither on purpofe. The ufe of
xxxm.A
^ ,; ^' '
j hops and the planting of them, was introduced from
'547- Flanders about thebeginning
of thisreign,
or end of
the pieced ins-.
Foreign artificers, in general, much furpafTed the
EiigliOi in dexterity, induury, and frugality : Hence
the violent animofity, which the latter, on many occa-
fions, expreiTed againft any of the former who were fet-
tled in England. They had the afTurance to complain,
that all their cuftomers went to foreign tradefmen ; and
in the year 1517, being moved by the feditious fermons
of one Dr. Beie, and the intrigues of Lincoln, a broker,
they raifed an infurrection. The apprentices, and others
of the poorer fort, in London, began by breaking open
the prifons, where fome perfons were confined for infulting
foreigners. They next proceeded tothe
houfeof
Men-tas, a Frenchman, much hated by them 3 where they
committed great diforders ; killed fome of his fervants ;
and plundered his goods. The mayor could not appeafe
them -,nor Sir Thomas More, late under fherifi-', though
much refpected in the city. They alfo threatened car-
dinal Wolfey with fome infult ; and he thought it ne-
ccfTary to fortify his houfe, and put himfelf on his guard.
Tired at lad with thefe diforders, they difperfed them-
felves ;and the earls of Shrewfbury and Surrey feized fome
of them. A proclamation was iffued, that women fhould
not meet together to babble and talk, and that all men
Ihould keep their wives in their houks. Next day the
duke of Norfolk came into the city, at the head of thir-
teen hundred armed men, and made enquiry into the
tumult. Eele and Lincoln, and fevcral others, were fent
to the Tower, and condemned for treafon. Lincoln
and thirteen more were executed. The other criminals,
to the number of four hundred, were brought before the
king,with
ropesabout their necks, fell on their knees,
and
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 289/481
HENRY VIII. 275
and cried for mercy. Kenry knew at that time how chap-to pardon j he di (miffed them without farther punifh- J
'
,
ment a.
I 547«
So great was the number of foreign artizans in the
city, that at leaft fifteen thoufand Flemings alone were
at one time obliged to leave it, by an order of coun-
cil, when Henry became jealous of their favour for queenCatherine b
. Henry himfelf confeffes, in an edict of the
flar-chamber, printed among the flatutes, that the fo-
reigners ftarved the natives ; and obliged them from
idlenefs to have recourfc to theft, murder, and other en-
ormities c. He alfo afferts, that the vaft multitude of
foreigners raifed the price of grain and bread d. And to
prevent an encreafe of the evil, all foreign artificers were
prohibited from havingabove two
foreignersin
their
houfe, either journeymen or apprentices. A like jealoufy
arofe againft the foreign merchants ; and to appeafe
it, a law was enacted obliging all denizens to pay the
duties impofed upon aliens e. The parliament had done
better to have encouraged foreign merchants and ar-
tizans to come over in greater number's to England 5
which might have excited the emulation of the nativ s,
and have improved their flrill. The prisoners in the
kingdom, for debts and crimes, are afferted in an acl of
parliament, to be fixty thoufand per for. s and above f^
which is fcarccly credible. Harrifon afferts that 72,000criminals were executed during this reign for theft and
robbery, which would amount nearly to 2000 a -year.
He adds, that, in the latter end of Elizabeth's reign,
there were not punifhed capitally 400 in a year : It ap-
pears, that, in all England, there are not at prefent fifty
executed for thofe crimes. If thefe facts be juft, there
a Stowe, 505. Hollingfhed, 84c.b Le Grand, vol. iii. p. 432.
c 21 Hen. VIII. d Ibid. * z* Hen. VIII. c. 8.
t3 Hen. VIII. c. 15.
T 2 has
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 290/481
276 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, has be«i a great improvement in morals fmce the reign
XXXIII. • .
, J of Henry VIII. And this improvement has been chiefly
1547. owing to the encreafe of induftry and of the arts, which
have given maintenance, and, what is almoft of equal
importance, occupation, to the lower clafles.
There is a remarkable claufe in a ftatute pafTed near
the beginning of this reign ?, by which we might be
induced to believe, that England was extremely decayed
from the flouriftiing condition,which it had attained in
preceding times. It had been enacted in the reign of
Edward II. that no magiftrate in town or borough, who
by his office ought to keep aflize, fhould, during the con-
tinuance of his magiftracy, fell, either in wholefale o>v
retail, any wine or victuals. This law feemed equit-
able, in order to prevent fraud or private views in fixing
the aflize : Yet the law is repealed in this reign. Thereafon affigned is, that " fince the making of that ftatute
" and ordinance, many and the moft part of all the ci-
ccties, boroughs, and towns corporate, within the realm
<c of England, are fallen in ruin and decay, and are
" not inhabited by merchants,, and men of fueh fub-
** ftance as at the time of making that ftatute : For atiC this day, the dwellers and inhabitants of the fame** cities and boroughs are commonly bakers, vintners,
"nfhmongers, and other victuallers, and there remain.
¥ few others to bear the offices." Men have fuch a
propenfity to exalt paft times above the prefent, that it
feemsdangerous
to credit thisreafoning
of the parlia-
ment, without farther evidence to fupport it. So differ-
ent are the views in which the fame object appears, that
fome may be inclined to draw an oppofite inference from
this fact:. A more regular police was eftablifhed in the
reign of Henry VIII. than in any former period, and
a ftric"ter adminiftration of juftice ; an advantage which
g 3 Hen. VIII. c. 8.
induced
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 291/481
HENRY VIII. 277
induced the men of landed property to leave the provin- chap.
cial towns, and to retire into the country. Cardinal.
-
*j
Wolfey, in a fpeech to parliament, reprefented it as a M47-
proof of the encreafe of riches, that the cuftoms had en-
creafed beyond what they were formerlyh
.
But if there were really a decay of commerce, and
induftry, and populoufnefs in England, the ftatutes of
this reign, except by abolifhing monaftcries, and re-
trenching holidays, circumftances of confiderable mo-
ment, were not in other refpe<5rs well calculated to re-
medy the evil. The fixing of the wages of artificers
was attemptedl
: Luxury in apparel was prohibited, by
repeated ftatutes k; and probably without effect. The
chancellor and other minifiers were empowered to fix
the price of poultry, cheefe, and butter '. A ftatute
was even palled to fix the price of beef, pork, mutton,
and veal . Beef and pork were ordered to be fold at
a halfpenny a pound : Mutton and veal at a halfpennyhalf a farthing, money of that age. The preamble of
the ftatute fays, that thefe four fpecies of butcher's meat
were the food of the poorer fort. This act was after-
wards repealedn
.
The practice of depopulating the country, by aban-
doning tillage, and throwing the lands into pafturage, (till
continued ; as appears by the new laws which were,
from time to time, enacted againft that practice. The
king was entitled to half the rents of the land, whereanyfarm houfes were allowed to fall to decay p. The unfkil-
ful hufbandry was probably the caufe why the proprietors
found no profit in tillage. The number of fheep allowed
to be kept in one flock, was reftrained to two thoufand <*.
h Hall, folio no. i 6 Hen VIII c. 3.k 1 Hen. VIII.
c. 14. 6 Hen. VIII. c. 1. 7 Hen. VIII. c. 7.1
25 Hen. VlIJ.
c. a. m 24 Hen. VIII. c. 3. 33 Hen. VIII. c. II.
oStrype, vol. i. p. 392. P 6 Hen. VIII. c, 5. 7 Hen. VIII. c. 1.
» 25 Hen. VIII. c. 13.
T 3 Sometimes,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 292/481
a;3 HISTORY OF ENGLAND._5 A p -
Sometimes, fays the ftatute, one proprietor or farmerA.XXIII.
\_ —v
~- _• v/ouldkeep
a flock oftwenty-four
thoufand. It is re-
x 547« markable, that the parliament afcribes the encreafing
price of mutton, to this encreafe of ftieep : Becaufe, fay
they, the commodity being gotten into few hands, the
price of it is raifed at pleafure i. It is more probable,
that the effect proceeded from the daily encreafe of
money : For it feems almoft impofiible, that fuch a com-
modity could be enorofTed.
In the year 1544, it appears that an acre of good land
in Cambridgeihire was let at a {hilling, or about fifteen-
. pence of our prefent moneyr
. This is ten times cheaper
than the ufual rent at Drefent. But commodities were1
not above four times cheaper: A prefumption of the bad
hufbandry in that age.
Some laws were made with regard to beggars and va-
grantss
; one of the circumftances in government, which
humanity would moft powerfully recommend to a bene-
volent legislator ; which feems, at fir ft fight, the moft
eafily adjufted ; and which is yet the moft difficult to
fettle in fuch amanner,
as to attain the end without de-
ftroying induftfy. The convents formerly were a fupport
to the poor ; but at the fame time tended to encourageidlenefs and beggary.
In 1546, a law was made for fixing the intereft of
money at 10 per cent. ; the firft legal intereft known in
England; Formerly, all loans of that nature were regarded
as u furious. The preamble of this very law treats the in-
tereft of money as illegal and criminal : And the preju-
dices frill remained (o ftrong, that the law, permitting
intereft, was repealed in the following reign.
This reign, as well as many of the foregoing and even
fubfequeiK reigns, abounds with monopolizing laws, con-
i
q 15 Hlr. VIII. c. 13.r
Andeifon, vol. i p. 374.s 2 % Hen.
VIII. e. la. 2* Hen. VIII. c, 5,
fining
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 293/481
HENRY VIII. 279
fining particular manufactures to particular towns, or ex- P" A p.
bludincr the open country in generalr
. There remain y1
frill too many traces of fimilar abfurdities. Lithe fubfe- r 547«
quer.t reign, the corporations, which had been opened by
a former law, and obliged to admit tradefmen of different
kinds, were again (hut up by acl of parliament ;and every
one was prohibited from exercifmg any trade, who was
notof the
corporation
u.
Henry, as he pofTcfled, himfelf, fome talent for let-
ters, was an encourager of them in others. He founded
Trinity college in Cambridge, and gave it ample endow-
ments. Wol fey founded Chrift Church in Oxford, and
intended to call it Cardinal college: But upon his fall,
which happened before he had entirely finifhed his fcheme,
the king feized all the revenues ; and this violence,
above all the other misfortunes of that minifter, is faid to
have given him the greateft concern w. But Henry af-
terwards reftored the revenues of the college, and onlv
changed the name. The cardinal founded in Oxford the
firft chair for teaching Greek ; and this novelty rent that
univerfity into violent factions, which frequently cameto blows. The ftudents divided themfelves into parries,
which bore the names of Greeks and Trojans, and fome-
times fought with as great animofity as was formerly ex-
ercifed by thofe hoftile nations. A new and more correct
method of pronouncing Greek being introduced, it alfo
divided the Grecians themfelves into parties ; and it was
remarked, that the catholics favoured the former pro-
nunciation, the proteftants gave countenance to the new,
Gardiner employed the authority of the king and council
to fupprefs innovations in this particular, and to prefer
the corrupt found of the Greek alphabet. So little If*
t
zi Hen. VIII. c. 12. 25 Ren. VIII. c. 18. 3 & 4 Fdw. VI. c. zo.
5 &6 Edw. VI, c, 24.u
3 & 4 Edw. VI. c. 20. w Ml, •
vol. i. p. 117,
T 4 berty
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 294/481
2 8o HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A
P.berty was then allowed of any kind ! The penalties, in-
iv
\ flifl-pd upon the new pronunciation were no lefs than
1 547« whipping, degradation, and expulfion ; and the bifhop
declared, that rather than permit theliberty of innovating
in the pronunciation of the Greek alphabet, it were better
that the language itfelf were totally banifhed the univer-
fkies. The introduction of the Greek language into
Oxford, excited the emulation of Cambridgex
. Wolfeyintended to
haveenriched the
library of his college atOxford, with copies of all the manufcripts that were in
the Vatican f. The countenance given to letters bythis king and his minifters, contributed to render learnr
ing fafhionable in England : Erafmus fpeaks with greatfatisfa&ion of the general regard paid by the nobilityand gentry to men of knowledge
z. It is needlefs to
be particular in mentioning the writers of this reign, or
of the preceding. There is no man of that age, who has
the leaft pretenfion to be ranked among our dailies. Sir
Thomas More, though he wrote in Latin, feems to comethe neareft to the character of a claffical author.
x Wood's Hift. & Antiq. Oxoft. lib. i. p. 245. Y Ibid. 2^9.*
Epist. ad Banifium. Alfo cpift. p. 368*
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 295/481
L 281 ]
CHAP. XXXIV.
E D W A R D VI.
State of the regency Innovations in the regency
—Hertford protetlor —Reformation completed —Gardiner's oppofition Foreign affairs Pro -
grefsofthe reformation in Scotland Ajfaff nation
of cardinal Beaton Condutl of the war with
Scotland Battle of Pinkey A parliament
- Farther progrefs of the reformation Af-
fairs of Scotland Young queen of Scots fent into
France Cabals of lord Seymour Dudley earl
of Warwic A parliament Attainder of lord
Seymour His execution— Ecclefiaftical af-
fairs,
THElate king, by the regulations, which heim- c h A P.
pofed on the government of his infant fon, as xxxiv.
well as by the limitations of the fucceffion, had projected , 547#
to reip-n even after his deceafe ; and he imagined, that State ot thco
. _ regency.his
minifters,who had
alwaysbeen fo
obfequiousto him
during his life-time, would never afterwards depart from
the plan, which he had traced out to them. He fixed the
majority of the prince at the completion of his eighteenth
year ; and as Edward was then only a few months paO:
nine, he appointed fixteen executors; to whom, during
the minority, he entrufted the government of the king
and kingdom. Their names were, Cranmer, archbifhop
of Canterbury; lord VVriothefely, chancellor; lord St.
5 J ohn >
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 296/481
282 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP. John, preat matter ; lord Ruffel, privy feal ; the earl of
XXXIV °
t *j Hprffnrt^ chamberlain; vifcount Lille, admiral; Ton-*547» ftal, bifliop of Durham ; Sir Anthony Brown, matter of
horfe ; Sir William Paget, fecretary of ftate ; Sir Edward
North, chancellor of the court of augmentations ; Sir
Edward Montague, chief juttice of the common pleas;
judge Bromley, Sir Anthony Denny, and Sir William
Herbert, chief gentlemen of the privy chamber ; Sir Ed-
ward Wotton,treafurer of Calais
;Dr.
Wotton,dean of
Canterbury. To thefe executors, with whom was en-
trufted the whole regal authority, were appointed twelve
counfellors, who pottetted no immediate power, and
could only affift with their advice, when any affair was
laid before them. The council was compofed of the
earls of Arundel and EiTex ; Sir Thomas Cheyney, trea-
furer of the houfehold; Sir John Gage, comptroller; Sir
Anthony Wingfield, vice-chamberlain; Sir William Pe-
tre, fecretary of ftate ; Sir Richard Rich, Sir John Baker
Sir Ralph Sadler, Sir Thomas Seymour, Sir Richard
Southwel, and Sir Edmund Peckham*. The ufual ca-
price of Henry appears fomewhat in this nomination ;
while he appointed feveral perfons of inferior ftation
among his executors, and gave only the place of coun-
fellor to a perfon of fuch high rank as the earl of Arundel,
and to Sir Thomas Seymour the king's uncle.
Innovations But the firft ad of the executors and counfellors wasin there-
depart from the deftination of the late king in a mate-gency.
* °_
rial article. No fooner were they met, than it was fug-
gefted, that the government would lofe its dignity, for
want of fome head, who might reprefent the royal ma-
jetty, who might receive addreftes from foreign ambaffa-
dors, to whom difpatches from Englifh minifters abroad
mi^ht be carried, and whofe name might be employed in
all orders and proclamations:
And as the king'swill
4 Strype's Memor, vol. ii, p. 4570feemcd
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 297/481
EDWARD VI. 283
feemed to labour under a defect in this particular, it was chap.rr r \ • . i_ r XXXIV.
deemed neceiiary ro iuppiy it, by chuling a protector ;i v j
who, though he mould pofTefs all the exterior fymbols of J 547-
royal dignity, mould yet be bound, in every act of power,to follow the opinion of the executors b
. This propofal
was very difagreeable to chancellor Wriothefely. That
magiftrate, a man of fan active fpirit and high ambition,
found himfelf,by
his office, entitled to the firft rank in
the regency after the primate; and as he knew, that this
prelate had no talent or inclination for flate affairs, he
hoped, that the direction of public bufinefs would of
courfe devolve in a great meafure upon himfelf. Ke op-
pofed, therefore, the propofal of chufing a protector; and
reprefented that innovation as an infringement of the late
king's will, which, being corroborated by act of parlia-
ment, ought in every thing to be a law to them, and
could not be altered but by the fame authority, which
had eftablifhed it. But he feems to have flood alone in
the oppofition. The executors and counfellors were
moftly courtiers, who had been raifed by Henry's favour,
not men of high birth or great hereditary influence; andas they had been fufHciently accuflomed to fubmiflion
during the reign of the late monarch, and had no pre-
tenfions to govern the nation by their own authority,
they acquiefced the more willingly in a propofal, which
feemed calculated for preferving public peace and tran-
quillity.It
beingtherefore
agreedto name a
protector,the choice fell of courfe on the earl of Hertford, who, as Hertford
he was the king's maternal uncle, was ftrongly interefted P rotefi
in his fafety ; and poileiling no claims to inherit the
crown, could never have any feparate interefl, which
might lead him to endanger Edward's perfon or his au-
thorityc
. The public was informed by proclamation of
this change in the adminiftration ; and difpatches were
*>Burnet, vol, ii. p. 5,
cHeylin, Hift. Ref. Edw. VI,
fent
or.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 298/481
284 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP. f en t to all foreign courts to give them intimation of it.
''All thofe who were pofTeffed of any office refigned their
'547' former commiffions, and accepted new ones in the name
of the young king. The bifhops themfelves were con-
strained to make a like fubmiffion. Care was taken to
infert in their new commiffions, that they held their of-
fice during pleafured
: And it is there exprefsly affirmed,
that all manner of authority and jurifdiclion, as well
ecclefiaftical as civil, is originally derived from thecrown e
.
The executors, in their next meafure, fhowed a more
fubmiffive deference to Henry's will ; becauie many of
them found their account in it. The late king had in-
tended, before his death, to make a new creation of no-
bility,in order to
fupplythe
placeof thofe
peerages,which
had fallen by former attainders, or the failure of ifTue ;
and that he might enable the new peers to fupport their
dignity, he had refolved, either to beftoweftates on them,
or advance them to higher offices. He had even gone fo
far as to inform them of this refolution ; and in his will,
he charged his executors to make good all his promifesf
.
That they might afcertain his intentions in the moft
authentic manner, Sir William Paget, Sir Anthony Den-
ny, and Sir William Herbert, with whom Henry had al-
ways converfed in a familiar manner, were called before
the board of regency ; and having given evidence of what
they knew concerning the king's promifes, their tefti-
mony was relied on, and the executors proceeded to the
fulfilling of thefe engagements. Hertford was created
17th Feb. duke of Somerfet, marfchal and lord treafurer ; Wrio-
thefely, earl of Southampton ; the earl of EfTex, mar-
quefs of Northampton ; vifcount Lille, earl of Warwic ;
dCollier, vol. ii. p. n3. Burnet, vol. ii p. 6. Strype's Mem. of Cranm.
p. 141. cStrype's Mem. of Cranm. p. 141.
tFuller, Heylin, ar:d Rvmei.
Sir
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 299/481
EDWARD VI. 2 g 5
Sir Thomas Seymour, lord Seymour of Sudley, and ad- chap.Bfiiral;
Sir RichardRich,
Sir WilliamWilloughby, Sir,
XXX1V
^Edward Sheffield accepted the title of baron g. Several 1547.
to whom the fame dignity was offered, refufed it; be-
caufe the other part of the king's promife, the beftowino-
of eftates on thefe new noblemen, was deferred till a
more convenient opportunity. Some of them, however,as alfo Somerfet the protector, were, in the mean time,
endowed with fpiritual preferments, deaneries and pre-
bends. For among many other invafions of ecclefiaftica!
privileges and property, this irregular practice, of be-
llowing fpiritual benefices on laymen, began now to
prevail.
The earl of Southampton had always been engaged
in an oppofite party to Somerfet; and it was not likelythat factions, which had fecretly prevailed, even duringthe arbitrary reign of Henry, fhould be fuppreffed in the
weak adminiftration, that ufually attends a minority.The former nobleman, that he might have the greater lei-
fure for attending to public bufinefs, had, of himfelf and
from his own authority, put the great feal in commiffion,
and had empowered four lawyers, Southwell, Tregonel,
Oliver, and Bellafis, to execute in his abfence the office
of chancellor. This meafure feemed very exceptionable j
and the more (o y as, two of the commifiioners being ca-
nonifts, the lawyers fufpecled, that, by this nomination,the chancellor had intended to difcredit the common law.
Complaints were made to the council ; who, influenced
by the protector, gladly laid hold of the opportunity to
deprefs Southampton. They confulted the judges with
regard to fo unufual a cafe, and received for anfwer, that
the commiffion was illegal, and that the chancellor, byhis prefumption in granting it, had juftly forfeited the
great feal, and was even liable to punifhment. The% Stowe's Annals, p. 594.
council
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 300/481
-
286 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H a P. council fummoned him to appear before them. He main*
xxxiv. ; .
v . /tained, that he held his office by the late kind's will,
J 547- founded on an act of parliament, and could not lofe it
without a trial in parliament ; that if the commiflion,which he had granted, were found illegal, it mip-ht be
cancelled, and all the ill confequences of it be eafiiy re-
medied ; and that the depriving him of his office for an
error of this nature, was a precedent by which any other
innovation might be authorized. But the council, not-
withstanding theft topics of defence, declared that he had
forfeited the great feal; that a fine fhould be impofed up-on him ; and that he fhould be confined to his own houfe
during pleafureh
.
The removal of Southampton encreafed the protector's
authority,as well as tended to
fupprefsfaction in the re-
gency ; yet was not Somerfet contented with this advan-
tage : His ambition carried him to feek ftill farther acqui-
fitions. On pretence, that the vote of the executors,
choofing him protector, was not a fufRcient foundation
for his authority, he procured a patent from the young
king, by which he entirely overturned the will of Harry
12 March, VIII. produced a total revolution in the government, and
may feem even to have fubverted all the laws of the king-
dom. He named himfelf protector with full regal power,and appointed a council, confifting of all the former
counfellors, and all the executors, except Southampton:He referved a power of naming any other counfellors at
pleafure : And he was bound to confult with fuch only
as he thought proper. The protector and his council
were likewife empowered to act at difcretion, and to ex-
ecute whatever they deemed for the public fervice, with-
out incurring any penalty or forfeiture from any law,
ftatute, proclamation, or ordinance whatfoever l. Even
hadthis
patent been moremoderate in its
conceflions,
h Hollingfhed, p. 979.* Burnet, vol. ii. Records, N° 6.
and
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 301/481
EDWARD VI. 287
and had it been drawn by direction, from the executors c hap.xxxiv
appointed by Henry, its legality might juftly be quef- . 2 'j
tioned ; fince it feems eiTential to a truit of this nature to *547*
be exercifed by the perfons entrufled, and not to admit of
a delegation to others : But as the patent, by its very te-
nor, where the executors are not (o much as mentioned,
appears to have been furreptitioufly obtained from a minor
King, the protectorfhip of Somerfet was a plain ufurpa-
tion, which it is impoflible by any arguments to juftify.
The connivance, however, of the executors, and their
prefent acquiefcence in the new eftablifhment, made it be
univerfally fubmitted to ; and as the young king difco-
vered an extreme attachment to his uncle, who was alfo
in the main a man of moderation and probity, no objec-tions
were made to his power and title. All men offenfe, likewife, who faw the nation divided by the reli-
gious zeal of the oppofite feels, deemed it the more ne-
ceiTary to entruft the government to one perfon, who
might check the exorbitancies of faction, and enfure the
public tranquillity. And though fome claufes of the pa-tent feemed to imply a formal fubverfion of all limited
government, fo little jealoufy was then ufually entertained
on that head, that no exception was ever taken at bare
claims or pretenfions of this nature, advanced by any
perfon poileiled of fovereign power. The actual exercife
alone of arbitrary adminiftration, and that in many and
great and flagrant and unpopular inftances, was able fome-
times to give fome umbrage to the nation.
The extenfive authority and imperious character ofReforma-
Henry had retained the partizans of both religions in fub-pieted?™"
jection; but upon his demife, the hopes of the protefrants
and the fears of the catholics began to revive, and the
zeal of thefe parties produced every where difputes and
animofities, the ufual preludes to more fatal divifions.
The protector had long been regarded as a fecret parti-
4.zan
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 302/481
2 88 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A P. zan of the reformers ; and being now freed from reftraint,
.___J he fcrupled not to difcover his intention of correcting all
1547. abufes in the ancient religion, and of adopting frill more
of the proteftant innovations. He took care, that all per-
fons, entrufled with the king's education, fhould be at--
tached to the fame principles ; and as the young prince
discovered a zeal for every kind of literature, efpecially the
theological, far beyond his tender years, all men forefaw,
in the courfe of his reign, the total abolition of the catholic
faith in England ; and they early began to declare them-
felves in favour of thofe tenets, which werelikely to become
in the end entirely prevalent. After Southampton's fall,
few members of the council feemed to retain any attach-
ment to the Romifh communion ; and moft of the coun-
fellorsappeared
evenfanguine
in
forwardingthe
progrefsof the reformation. The riches, which molt of them had
acquired from the fpoils of the clergy, induced them to
widen the breach between England and Rome; ,and by
eftablifhing a contrariety of fpeculative tenets, .*s well as
of difcipline and worfhip, to render a coalition with the
mother church altogether impracticablek
. Their rapa-
city alfo, the chief fource of their reforming fpirit, was
excited by the profpect of pillaging the fecular, as they
had already done the regular clergy; and they knew, that,
while any fhare of the old principles remained, or any
regard to the ecclefiaftics, they could never hope to fuc-
ceed in that enterprize.
The numerous and burthenfome fuperfiitions, withwhich the Romifh church was loaded, had thrown manyof the reformers, by the fpirit of oppofition, into an en-
thufiaftic flrain of devotion ; and all rites, ceremonies,
pomp, order, and exterior obfervances were zealoufly
profcribed by them, as hindrances to their fpiritual con-
templations, and obftruclions to their immediate converfc
k Goodwin's Annals. Heylin.
with
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 303/481
EDWARD VI. 2891
with heaven. Many circumdances concurred to inihrne c H A P.
this daring fpirit; the novelty itfeifor
their, doctrine?,....
^the triumph of making profelytes, the furious perfect:-J S47-
tions to which they weie expofed, Eheir animofity againd
the ancient tenets and practices, arc! the neceflity of pro-
curing the concurrence of the laity, by reffing the
hierarchy, and by tendering to the : plunder of the
ecclefiaftics. Wherever the reformation prevailed over the
oppofition of civil authority, this genius of religion ap-
peared in its full extent, and was attended with confe-
quences, which, though lefs durable, v/ere, for fome time,
not lefs dangerous than thofe which v/ere connected with
the ancient fuperftition. But as the magiftrate took the
lead in England, the tranfition was mere gradual ; much
of the ancient religion was flill preferved ; and a reafon-
able decree of fuboruination was retained in ciifcipline,
as well as fome pomp, order, and ceremony in public
worm i p.
The protector, in his fchemes for advancing the re-
formation, had always reccurfe to the counfels of Cran-
mer, who, being a man of moderation and prudence, wasaverfe to all violent changes, and determined to bring
over the people by infenfibie innovations, to that fyftera
of doctrine and discipline, which he deemed the mod
pure and perfect. He probably alfo forefaw, that a fyf-
tem, which carefully avoided the extremes of reformation,
waslikely
to be moftlading
; and that a devotion,merely
fpi ritual, was fitted only for the firft fervours of a new-
feet, and upon the relaxation of thefe naturally gave
place to the inroads of fuperftition. He feems therefore
to have intended the eftablifhment of a hierarchy, which,
being fuited to a great and fettled government, mightfland as a perpetual barrier againft Rome, and might re-
tain the reverence of the people, even after their enthu-
fiaflic zeal was dtmtiriihcd or entirely evaporated.
Vol. IV. U The
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 304/481
290 HISTORY OF ENGLAND;
°xxxiv'^ HE P er ^on > wno °PP°^j w^h greateft authority**
c—-v-^/ any farther advances towards reformation, was Gardiner**547. bifhop of Winchefler; who, though he had rrot obtained
a place in the council of regency, on account of late dif-
gufh, which he had given to Henry, was entitled, by his
age, experience, and capacity, to the higheft truft andGardiner's confidence of his party. This prelate ftill continued to©fpofition. t i tj 11 • r i i
magnify the great wildom and learning of the late king,
which, indeed, were generally and fincerely revered bythe nation ; and he infifted on the prudence of perfever-
ing, at lead till the young king's majority, in the eccle-
fiaftical model, eftablifhed by that great monarch. Hedefended the ttfe of images, which were now openly at-
tacked by the proteftants ; and he reprefented them as
ferviceable in maintaininga
fenfe of religion among theilliterate multitude !
. He even deigned to write an apo*
logy for holy> wd'fer, which bifhop Ridley had decried in
a fermon ; and he maintained, that, by the power of the
Almighty, it might be rendered an inftrument of doing
good ; as much as the fhadow of St. Peter, the hem of
Chrift'sgarment,
or the fpittle andclay
laid
uponthe
eyes of the blind '". Above all, he inilfted, that the
laws ought to be obferved, that the confKtution ought to
be preferved inviolate, and that it was dangerous to fol-
low the will of the fovereign, in oppofition to an act of
parliament \
But though there remained at that' time in Englandan idea of laws and a conftitution, fufficient at leaft to
furnifh a topic of argument to fuch as were difeontented
with any immediate exercife of authority ; this plea
could fcarcely, in the prefent cafe, be maintained with
any plaufibility by Gardiner. An act of parliament had
invefted the crown with a legiflative power ; and roya-l
1 Fox, vol. ii. p. 713. m Ibid. p. 714k»
Collier, vol. ii. p. az8. Fox, vol. ii.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 305/481
£ D W A R D VI. 291
proclamations, even during a minority, were armed with cJ^^.y*
the force of laws. Theprotector,
finding himfelf fup- \^~^ —j
ported by this ftatute, was determined to employ his au- 1 547«
thority in favour of the reformers ; and having fufpended,
during the interval, the jurifdi&ion of the bifhops, he
appointed a general vifitation to be made in all the dio-
cefes of Ens-land °. The vifltors confifted of a mixture
of clergy and laity* and had fix circuits aligned them.
The chief purport of their inftructions was, befides cor-
recting immoralities and irregularities in the clergy, to
abolifh the ancient fuperftitions, and to bring the dis-
cipline and worfhip fomewhat nearer the practice of the
reformed churches. The moderation of Somerfet and
Cranmer is apparent in the conduct of this delicate affair,
The vifitors were enjoinedto
retainfor
the prefentall
images which had not been abufed to idolatry ; and to
inftruct the people not to defpife fuch ceremonies as were
not yet abrogated, but only to beware of fome particular
fuperftitions, fuch as the fprinkling of their beds with
holy water, and the ringing of bells, or ufmg of confe-
crated candles, in order to drive away the devil p.
But nothing required more the correcting hand of au~
thority, than the abufe of preaching, which was now
generally employed, throughout England, in defending
the ancient practices and fuperftitions. The court of
augmentation, in order to eafe the exchequer of the an-
nuities paid to monks, had commonly placed them in the
vacant churches ; and thefe men were led by intereft, as
well as by inclination, to fupport thofe principles, which
had been invented for the profit of the clergy. Orders
therefore were given to reftrain the topics of their fer-
mons : Twelve homilies were publifhed, which they were
enjoined to read to the people : And all of them were pro-
hibited, withoutexprefs permiilion,
frompreaching any
f Mem, Cranm. p. 146, 14.7, &c P Burnet, vol. ii. p. 2S.
XJ 2 where
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 306/481
292 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.«
c H A P. where but in their pariih churches. The purpofe of thisJ%.Si.J\.
k_ injunction was to throw a rellraint on the catholic di-
j-i7- vines; while the proteftant, by the grant of particular
licences, fhould be allowed unbounded liberty.
Bonner made feme oppofition to thefe meafures; but
foon after retracted and acquiefced. Gardiner was more
high fpiritcd and more fteady. He reprefented the peril
of perpetual innovations^ and the necefiity of adhering to
fome fyllem."
'Tis a dangerous thing," find he,cc
toc; ufc too much freedom, in refearches of this kind. If"
you cut the old canal, the water is apt to run farther" than you have a mind to. If you indulge the humour
of novelty, you cannot put a ftop to people's demands,nor govern their indifcretions at pleafure. For mypart," faid he, on another occafion,
"
myfole con-
cern is to manage the third and laft acl: of my life with"
decency, and to make a handfome exit off the flage.
Provided this point is fecured, I am not folicitous about
the reft. I am already by nature condemned to death:
No man can give me a pardon from this fentence ; nor
fo much as procure me a reprieve. To fpeak my mind,
and to acl as my confeience directs, are two branches
of liberty, which I can never part with. Sincerity in
fpeech, and integrity in action, are entertaining qua-'** ifies: They will ftick by a man, when every thino-
tlfe takes its leave ; and I mud not refign them upon
ly coniideraticn. The beil on it is, if I do notu throw them
away myfelf,no man can force them from
" me: But if I g've them up, then am I ruined by my-"
(elf, and deferve to lofe all my preferments i." This
oppofition of Gardiner drew on him the indignation of
the council ; and he was fent to the Fleet, where he wasufed with (o:n^ feverity.
l! Coiiier, vol. ii. p 128. ex MS, Col. C. C. Cantab. Bibliotheca Bri-
, article G.'.R DINER.
One
it
a
a
a* f
ii
ii
ts
aa
c;
c; an
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 307/481
E D W A R D VI. 293
One of the chief objections, urged by Gardiner c " A ''•
againft the new homilies,was that
they defined,with .. _j
the moft metaphyseal precifion, the doctrines of ice,j :47-
and ofj
unification by faith; points, he thought, which
it was fuperfluous for any man to know exactly, arid
which certainly much exceeded the comprehenfion of the
vulgar. A famous martyrologift calls Gardiner, on ac-
count of this opinion," An infenfible afs, and one that
" had no feeling of God's fpirit in the matter of juftifica-
" tion r ." The meaneft proteftant imagined at that time,
that he had a full comprehcnfion of all thofe rtiyfterious
doctrines ; and he heartily defpifed the mod: learned and
knowing perfon of the ancient religion, who acknow-
ledged his ignorance with regard to them. It is indeed
certain, that the reformers were very fortunate in their
doctrine ofj unification, and might venture to foretel its
fuccefs, in oppofition to all the ceremonies, mow 1
fuperflitions of popery. By exalting Chrift and his fuf-
ferings, and renouncing all claim to independent merit in
ourfelves, it was calculated to become popular, and coin-
cided with thofe principles ofpanegyric
and of felf-abafe-
ment, which generally have place in religion.
Tonstal, bifhop of Durham, having, as well as Gar-
diner, made fome oppofition to the new regulations, wa
difmifTed the council ; but no farther feverity was$ for
the prefent, exercifed againft him. He was a man 1
great moderation, and of the mod unexceptionable cha-
racter in the kingdom.The fame religious zeal, which engaged fomerfet tor,--
'
-
promote the reformation at home, led him to carry his'1
attention to foreign countries ; where the interefts of the
protectants v/ere now expofed to the mofr. imminent dan-
ger. The Roman pontiff, with much reluctance and
nkerlong delays,
had at laft fummoned ageneral
ccun-
r Fox, vol. ii.
U 3 cil,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 308/481
2p4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap, cil, which was afTembled at Trent, and was employed,
XXXIV >
.
" '
. both incorrecting
the abufes of thechurch,
and in afcer-
*547« taining her doctrines. The emperor, who defired to re-
prefs the power of the court of Rome, as well as gain
over the protectants, promoted the former object of the
council j the pope, who found his own greatnefs fo deeply
interested, defired rather to employ them in the latter.
He gave instructions to his legates, who prefided in the
council, to protract the debates, and to engage t.he theo-
logians in argument, and altercation, and difpute con-
cerning the nice points of faith, canvaffed before them :
A policy, fo eafy to be executed, that the legates foon
found it rather neceiTary to interpofe, in order to appeafe
the animofity of the divines, and bring them at laft to
fome decifion s . The more difficult tafk for the legates
was to moderate or divert the zeal of the council for re-
formation, and to reprefs the ambition of the prelates,
who defired to exalt the epifcopal authority on the ruins
of the fovereign pontiff. Finding this humour become
prevalent, the legates, on pretence that the plague had
broken outat
Trent,transferred of a fudden the council
to Bologna, where, they hoped, it would be more under
the direction of his holinefs.
The emperor, no h(s than the pope, had learned to
make religion fubfervient to his ambition and, policy. He
was refoived to employ the imputation of here fy as a pre-
tence for fubduing the proteftant princes, and opprefling
the liberties of Germany ; but found it necefTary to cover
his intentions under deep artifice, and to prevent the
combination of his adverfaries. He feparated the Pala-
tine and the elector of Brandenburgh from the proteftant
confederacy : He took arms againft the elector, of Saxony,
and the landgrave of HefTe : By the fortune of war^ he
made the former prifoner: He employed treachery and
* Faihcr Paul; l»h. z.
pre-
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 309/481
EDWARD VI. 295
prevarication againft the latter, and detained him captive,?- ha p.
by breaking a fafe-conduct which he had granted him. , 4
He feemed to have reached the fummit of his ambition ;J 54>
and the German princes, who were aftonifhed with his
fuccefs, were farther difcouraged by the intelligence,
which they had received, of the death, firft of HenryVIII. then of Francis I. their ufual refources in every
calamityc
.
Henry II. who fucceeded to the crown of France,
was a prince of vigour and abilities; but lefs hafty in
his refolutions than Francis, and lefs enflamed with ri-
valfhip and animofity againft the emperor Charles.
Though he fent ambafladors to the princes of the Smal-
caldic League, and promifed them protection, he was
unwilling, in the commencement of his reign, to hurryinto a war with fo great a power as that of the emperor ;
and he thought that the alliance of thofe princes was a
fure refource, which he could at any time \<\y hold of".
He was much governed by the duke of Guife and th.e
cardinal of Lorraine ; and he hearkened to their ccunfel,
inchufing
rather togive
immediate afliftance toScotland,
his ancient ally, which, even before the death of HenryVIII. had loudly claimed the protection of the French
monarchy.The hatred between the two factions, the partizans Progrpf' of
of the ancient and thofe of the new religion, became1 e
Jei
every day more violent in Scotland ; and the refolution, Scotland,
which the cardinal primate had taken, to employ the
rnoft rigorous punifhments againft the reformers, broughtmatters to a quick decifion. There was one Wifhart, a
gentleman by birth, who employed himfelf with great
steal in preaching againft the ancient fuperftitions, and
f)egan to give alarm to the clergy, who were juftly terrified
^vith the danger of fome fatal revolution in religion. Thi$
t §ieidan, " Pere D_aniei,
">
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 310/481
20 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
vSvii?" man was ce ^t>ratec] for the purity of his morals, and for
yv _ * his extenuve learning : But thefe praifec cannot be much
* 1547* depended on ; becaufe, we know, that, among the re-
former?, feverity of manners fupplied the place of many-
virtues; arc; the age was in general fo ignorant, that• mod of the priefts in Scotland imagined the New Tefta-
ment to be a comp cion of Luther's, and aflcrted that
the Old alone was the >ord of God w. But however
the cafe may have flood with regard to thofc eftimable
qualities afcribed to Wifhart, he was ftrongly polTefTed
with the defire of innovation; and he enjoyed thofe ta-
lents, which qualified him for becoming a popular
preacher, and for feizing the attention and affections of
the multitude. The magiflrates of Dundee, where he
exercifed his mifnon, were alarmed with his progrefs;
and being unable or unwilling to treat him with rigour,
they contented themfelves with denying him the liberty
of preaching, and with difmifflng him the bounds of
their jurifdic.ion. Wifhart, moved with indignation,
that they had dared to reject him, together with the
word of God, menaced them, in imitation of the ancient
prophets, with fome imminent calamity; and he with-
drew to the weft country, where he daily encreafed the
number of his profeJyt.es. Meanwhile, a plague broke out
in Dundee; and all men exclaimed, that the town had
drawn down the vengeance of Heaven by banifhing the
puus preacher, and that the peftilence would never ceafe,
till they had made him atonement for their offence againft
him. No fooner d:d Wifhart hear of this change in
their difpofition, than he returned to them, and made
them a new tender of his doctrine: But left he fhould
fpread the contagion by bringing multitudes together,
he creeled his pulpit on tne top of a gate : The infected
floodwithin ;
the others without.And
thepreacher
"w See r.ote [P] at the end cf the volume,
I failed
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 311/481
EDWARD VI. 297
failed not, in fuch a fituation, to take advantage of the c H a p.
immediateterrors
of the people, and to enforce his evan- .
'
agelical miffion x
. 154.7.
The afiiduity and fuccefs of Wifhart became an ob-
ject of attention to cardinal Beaton; and he refolved, bythe punifhment of fo celebrated a preacher, to flrike a
terror into all other innovators. He engaged the earl
of Bothwel to arreft him ; and to deliver him into his
hands, contrary to a promife given by Bothwel to that
unhappy man : And being poflefled of his prey, he con-
dueled him to St. Andrew's, where, after a trial, he con-
demned him to the flames for herefy. Arran, the go-
vernor, was irrefolute in his temper; and the cardinal,
though he had gained him over to his party, found, that
he would not concur in the condemnation and executionof Wifhart. He determined, therefore, without the affift-
ance of the fecular arm, to bring that heretic to punifh-
ment; and he himfelf beheld from his window the dif-
mal fpe&acle. Wifhart fufFered with the ufual patience;
but could not forbear remarking the triumph of his in-
fulting enemy.He
foretold, that,in a few
days,he
fhould, in the very fame place, lie as low, as now he
was exalted aloft, in oppofition to true piety and re-
ligiony
.
This prophecy was probably the immediate caufe of AfTaiTina-
the event which it foretold. The difciples of this mar-l
l?n
?{c?~
tyr, enraged at the cruel execution, formed a confpiracvton -
againfr. the cardinal ; and having afibciated to them Nor-
man Lefly, who was difgufted on account of fome pri-
vate quarrel, they conducted their enterprize with great
fecrecy and fuccefs. Early in the morning they entered
the cardinal's palace, which he had ftrongly fortified ;
and though they were not above fixteen perfons, they
x Knox's Hifl. of Ref. p. 44. Spotfwood. Y Spotfwood, Bu-
chanan 5
thruft
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 312/481
2 9 8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, thruft out a hundred tradefmen and fifty fervants, whom
^___2^'_j
theyfeized
feparately,before
any fufpicionarofe of their
JS47- intentions ; and having fhut thegates, they proceeded
very deliberately to execute their purpofe on the cardinal.
That prelate had been alarmed with the noife which he
heard in the caftle; and had barricaded the door of his
chamber; But finding that they had brought fire in or-
der to force their way, and having obtained, as is be-
lieved, a promife of life, he opened the doorj and re-
minding them, that he was a prieft, he conjured tiiem to
fpare him. Two of the aflaflms rufhed upon him with
drawn fwords ; but a third, James Melvil, mare calm
.and more confiderate in villany, flopped their career, and
bade them reflect, that this facrifice was the work and
judgment of God, and ought to be executed with be-
coming deliberation and gravity. Then turning the
point of his fword towards Beaton, he called to him,"
Repent thee, thou wicked cardinal, of all thy fins
" and iniquities, efpecially of the murder of Wifhart.*' that inftrument of God for the converfion of thefe" lands : It is his death, which now cries
vengeanceiCupon thee: We are fent by God to inflict the de-
ferved punifhment. For here, before the Almighty,I proteft, that it is neither hatred of thy perfon, nor
love of thy riches, nor fear of thy power, which
moves me to feek thy death : But only becaufe thou
haft been, and ftill remained, an obftinate enemy to
Chrift Jefus, and his holy gofpel." Having fpoken-thefe words, without giving Beaton time to finifh that
repentance, to which he exhorted him, he thruft him
through the body; and the cardinal fell dead at his
feet *, This murder was executed on the 28th of May*54 6 -
<;
<<
cc
<<
4C
* The famous Scotch reformer, John K,nox, calls Jair.es Melvil, p. 6c.
a rr.an moft gentle and moft modeft. It is very horrid, but at the fametin.^
(ooiewhat amufing, to confider the joy and alacrity and plea'ur?, *,vhich thai;
hiftcrU:}
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 313/481
EDWARD VI. 299
1546. The aflaflins, being reinforced by their friends c H A ''•
to the number of a hundred and forty perfons, prepared v. - v s
themfelves for the defence of the caftle, and fent a mef- *547«
fenger to London, craying afllftance from Henry. That
prince, though Scotland was comprehended in his peace
with France, would not forego the opportunity of ilif-
turbing the government of a rival-kingdom ; and he pro-
mifed to take them under his protection.
It was the peculiar misfortune of Scotland, that five
fhort reigns had been fucceflivcly followed by as many'
long minorities ; and the execution ofjuftice, which the
prince was beginning to introduce, had been continually
interrupted by the cabals, factions, and animofities of
thegreat.
But befides thefe inveterate and ancient evils,
a new fource of diforder had arilen, the difputes and
contentions of theology, which were fufficient todiflurb
the mod fettled government; and the death of the cardi-
nal, who was pofTeiTed of abilities and vigour, feemed
much to weaken the hands of the adminiftration. But
the queen-dowager was a woman of uncommon talents
and virtue j and fhe did as much to fupport the govern-
ment, and fupply the weaknefs of Arran, the governor,
as could be expected in her fjtuation.
The protector of England, as foon as the ftate Conduft of
. the war willi
was brought to fome compofure, made preparations for Scotland.'
war with Scotland ; and he was determined to exe-
cute, if pofTible, that project, of uniting the two king-doms by marriage, on which the late king had been fo
intent, and which he had recommended with his dying
breath to his executors. He levied an army of 18,000
hiflorian discovers in his narrative of this afiaiTination : And it is remarkabl«
fchat in the firft edition of his work, thefe words were printed on the margin
of thepage,
Thegodly
Fatf and Wordsof James
Melv'd. But the fulowing
tditors retrenched them. Knox himfelf had no hrnd in the murder of Bea-
tonj but he afterwards joined the affaffins, and affifted them in holding ou.t
the caftle. See Keith's Hift. of iheRef. of Scotland, p. 43.
men 3
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 314/481
300 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
c^Ha P. men, and equipped a fleet of fixty fail, one half of which
\__- ,— w were fhips of war, the ether laden with provifions and
*547« ammunition. He gave the command of the fleet to lord
Clinton: He himfelf marched at the head of the army,attend..,: b) the earl of Warwic. Thefe hoftile meafures
wtft co\ r< d with a pretence of revenging fome depreda-
tions committed by the borderers; but befides, that
Somerfet revived the ancient claim of the fuperiority
of the Englifh crown over that of Scotland, he refufed
to enter into neeociation on any other condition than the
marriage of the young queen with Edward.
The proteclor, before he opened the campaign, pub-
lifhed a manifefto, in which he enforced all the argu-
ments for that meafure. He faid, that nature feemed ori-
ginally to have intended this ifland for one empire; andhaving cut it off from all* communication with foreign
ftates, and guarded it by the ocean, (he had pointed out
to the inhabitants the road to happinefs and to fecurity :
Tha; the education and cuftoms of the people concurred
with nature ; and by giving them the fame language,
and .aws, and manners, had invited them to a thorou- h
union and coalition : That fortune had at laft removed
all obftacles, and had prepared an expedient, by which
they might become one people, without leaving any place
for that jealoufy either of honour or of intereit, to which
rival nations are naturally expofed : That the crown of
Scotland had devolved on a female : that of England on
a male ; and happily the two fovereigns, as of a rank,
were alfo of an age, the moil fuitable to each other :
That the hoftile difpofitions, which prevailed between
the nations, and which arofe from paft injuries, would
foon be extinguilhed, after a long and fecure peace had
eftabJifhed confidence between them : That the memory
of former miferies, which at prefent inflamed their mu-tual animofity, would then {crve only to make them
cherifh,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 315/481
EDWARD VI. 301
cherim, with more paffion, a irate of happincfs and tran- chap.XXXIV
quillity, To long unknown to their anceftors : That when ._ y -_^j
hoftilities had ceafed between the kingdoms, the Scotti/h *547»
nobility, who were at pre Tent obliged to remain perpe-
tually in a warlike pofcurc, would learn to cultivate the
arts of peace, and would foftcn their minds to a love of
domeftic order and obedience: That as this fituation was
defirable to bothkingdoms,
(oparticularly
toScotland,
which had been expofed to the greateft miferies from in-
terline and foreign wars, and faw herfelf every momentin danger of lofmg her independancy, by the efforts of
a richer, and more powerful people : That though Eng-land had claims of fuperiority, fhe was willing to refign
every pretenfion for the fake of future peace, and denied
an union, which would be the more fecure, as it would
be concluded on terms entirely equal : And that, befides
all thefe motives, pofitive engagements had been taken
for completing this alliance; and the honour and goodfaith of the nation were pledged to fulfil what her intereft
and fafety fo loudly demanded a.
Somerset foon perceived, that thefe rem on Franceswould have no influence ; and that the queen dowager'sattachment to France and to the catholic religion would
render ineffectual all negotiations for the intended mar-
riage. He found himfelf, therefore, obliged to try the
force of arms, and to confrrain the Scots by necerlitv to
fubmit to ameafure,
for whichthey feemed
tohave en-
tertained the mpft incurable aveifion. He paifed the 2 d Sept,
borders at Berwic, and advanced towards Edinburgh,without meeting any refiflance for fome day?, except from
fome fmall caftles, which he obliged to furrender at
difcrction. The proteclcr intended to have pumfhed the
governor and garrifon of one of thefe caftles for their
temerity in refifting fuch unequal force : But they eluded
a Sir John Haywood in Kenr.et, p, 279." Heylin, p. 42,
his
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 316/481
?02 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
vv ? v' ^' s an S er by afking only a few hours' refpite, till they
ClX .1 fhould prepare themfelves for death; after which they
*5W- found his ears more open to their applications for
mercyc
.
The governor of Scotland had fummoned too-ether the
whole force of the kingdom ; and his army, double in
number to that of the Englifli, had taken pod: on advan-
tageous ground, guarded by the banks of the Efke, about
four miles from Edinburgh. The Englifli came within
fight of them at Fafide ; and after a fkirmifh between the
toorfe, where the Scots were worried, and lord Hume
dangeroufly wounded, Somerfet prepared himfelf for a
more decifive action. But having taken a view of the
Scotifli camp with the earl of Warwic, he found it diffi-
cult to make anattempt upon
it withany probability
of
fuccefs. He wrote, therefore, another letter to Arran ;
and offered to evacuate the kingdom, as well as to repair
all the damages which he had committed, provided the
Scots would ftipulate not to contract the queen to any
foreign prince, but to detain her at home, till (he reached
the age of chufmg a hufband for herfelf. So moderate a
demand was rejected by the Scots merely on account of its
moderation j and it made them imagine that the protec-
tor mufl either be reduced to great diftrefs or be influenced
by fear, that he was now contented to abate fo much of
his former pretenfions. Inflamed alfo by their priefls,
who had come to the camp in great numbers, they be-
lieved, that the Englifli were deteftable heretics, abhorred
of God, and expofed to divine vengeance ;and that no
fuccefs could ever crown their arms. They were con-
firmed in this fond conceit, when they faw the protector
change his ground, and move towards the fca ; nor did
they any longer doubt, that he intended to embark his
army,and
makehis
efcapeon board the
fhips,which at
c Haywood. Patten,
that
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 317/481
EDWARD VI. 303
that very time moved into the bay, oppofite to him d. C hap.
XXXI VDetermined therefore to cut off his
retreat, they quitted.
_ "j
their camp : and paffing the river Efke, advanced into the '547-
plain. They were divided into three bodies: Angus 10th Sept.
commanded the vanguard ; Arran the main body ; Hunt-
ley the rear : Their cavalry confided only of light horfe,
which were placed on their left flank, flrengthened byfome Irifh archers, whom Argyle had brought over for
this fervice.
Somerset was much pleafed when he faw this move-
ment of the Scottifn army ; and as the Englifh had ufually
been fuperior in pitched battles, he conceived great hopes
of fuccefs. He ranged his van on the left, fartheft from
the fea ; and ordered them to remain on the high grounds
on whichhe
placed them,till the
enemyfhould
ap-proach : He placed his main battle and his rear towards T."£.
b * tt,c
r * or P1r.1c.ty.
the right; and beyond the van he pofted lord Grey at the
head of the men at arms, and ordered him to take the
Scottifh van in flank, but not till they fhould be engagedin clofe fight with the van of the Englifh.
While the Scots were advancing on the plain, they
were galled with the artillery from the Englifh fhips :
The eldeft fon of lord Graham was killed : The Irifh
archers were thrown into di ford er ; and even the other
troops began to ftagger: When lord Grey, perceiving
their fituation, neglected his orders, left his ground, and
at the head of his heavy-armed horfe made an attack on
the Scottifh infantry, in hopes of gaining all the honourof the victory. On advancing, he found a flough and
ditch in his way ; and behind were ranged the enemyarmed with fpears,- and the field, on which they flood,
was fallow ground, broken with ridges, which lay acrofs
their front, arid' difordered the movements of the Eng-lifh
cavalry.From all thefe
accidents,the fhock of
*Hollingftifd, p, 985,
this
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 318/481
3 o4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, this body of horfe was feeble and irregular: and as theyXXXIVc j were received on the points of the Scottifh fpears, which
i547» were longer than the lances of the Englifh horfemen, they
were in a moment pierced, overthrown, and difcomfited.
Grey himfelf was dangeroufly wounded : Lord Edward
Seymour, fon of the protestor, had his horfe killed under
him : 1 he ftandard was near being taken : And had the
Scots pofleflTed any good body of cavalry, who could have
purfued the advantage, the whole Englifh army had been
expofed to great dangere
.
The proteclor mean-while^ aflifted by Sir Ralph Sad- I
ler and Sir Ralph Vane, employed himfelf with diligence
and fuccefs, in rallying the cavalry. Warvvic fhowed
great prefence of mind in maintaining the ranks of the
foot, on which the horfe had recoiled : He made Sir Pe-ter Meutas advance, captain of the foot harquebufiers,
and Sir Peter Gamboa, captain of fome Italian and Spa-
nifh harquebufiers on horfeback ; and ordered them to
ply the Scottifh infantry with their (hot. They marched
to the Hough, and difcharged their pieces full in the face
of theenemy
: The(hips galled
them from the flank :
The artillery, planted on a height, inferred them from
the front : The Englifh archers poured in a fhower of ar-
rows upon them : And the vanguard, defcending from the
hill, advanced, leifurely and in good order, towards them.
Diimayed with all thefe circum fiances, the Scottifh van
began to retreat : The retreat foon changed into a flight,
which was begun by the trifh archers. The pannic of
the van communicated itfelf to the main body, and paf-
fing thence to the rear, rendered the whole field a fcene
of confufion, terror, flight, and confirmation. The
Englifh army perceived from the heights the condition of
the Scots, and began the purfuit with loud fhouts and ac-
clamations, which added ftill more to the difmay of the
c Patten, Hollingfhed, p. 98S.
vanquifhed.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 319/481
EDWARD VI. 305
vanquifhed. The horfe in particular, eager to revengec H a P„
the affront, which they had received in the beginning of.
'
»
the day, did the mod bloody execution on the flying i547»
enemy ; and from the field of battle to Edinburgh, for the
fpace of five miles, the whole ground was ftrowed with
dead bodies. The priefts above all, and the monks re-
ceived no quarter ; and the Englifh made fport of flaugh-
tering men, who, from their extreme zeal and animofityj
had engaged in an enterprife fo ill befitting their profef- 1
fion. Few victories have been more decifive, or gainedwith fmaller lofs to the conquerors. There fell not two
hundred of the Englifh ; and according to the mofl mo-derate computation, there perifhed above ten thoufand of
the Scots. About fifteen hundred were taken prifoners.
This aclion was called the battle of Pinkey, from a no-bleman's feat of that name in the neighbourhood.
The queen-dowager and Arran fled to Stirling, and
were fcarcely able to collect fuch a body of forces as could
check the incurfions of fmall parties of the Englifh.About the fame time, the earl of Lenox and lord Whar-ton entered the
Weft Marches,at the head
offive
thou-fand men, and after taking and plundering Annan, they
fpread devaluation over all the neighbouring counties f.
Had Sornerfet profecuted his advantages, he mio-ht have
impofed what terms he pleafed on the Scottifh nation : *
But he was impatient to return to England, where, he
heard, fome counfellors, and even his own brother, the
admiral, were carrying on cabals againff. his authority.
Having taken the caflles of Hume, Dunglafs, Eymouth,Faftcaftle, Roxborough^ and fome other fmall places $
and having received the fubmiflion of fome counties onthe borders, he retired from Scotland. The fleet, befides
deftroying all the fhipping along the coait, took Broughtyin the Frith of Tay ; and having fortified it, they there left
fIlollingihed, p. 952,
Vol. IV. X a gar-
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 320/481
3 o6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c h a p. a sarrifon. Arran defired leave to fend commiffioners
XXXIV.{ 1) in order to treat of a peace ; and Somerfet, having ap-
, 547«pointed
Berwic for theplace
ofconference,
left Warwic
with full powers to negociate : But no commiffioners
from Scotland ever appeared. The overture of the Scots
was an artifice, to gain time, till fuccours ihould arrive
from France.
4th Nov. The protector, on his arrival in England, fummoned
a parliament : And being fomewhat elated with his fuc-
cefs againft the Scots, he procured from his nephew a
patent, appointing him to fit on the throne, upon a ftool
or bench at the right hand of the king, and to enjoy the
fame honours and privileges, that had ufually been pof-
feffed by any prince of the blood, or uncle of the kings
of England. In this patent, the king employed his dif-
penfing power, by fetting afide the ftatute of precedency,
A parlia- enacted during the former reign s. But if Somerfet gave
offence by afliimihg too much ftate, he deferves great
praife en account of the laws pafled this feflion, by which
the rigour of former ftatutes was much mitigated, and
fome fecurity given to the freedom of the conftitution.
All laws were repealed, which extendedthe crime of
treafon beyond the ftatute of the twenty-fifth of Edward
II I.h
; all laws enacted during the late reign, extending
the crime of felony; all the former laws againft Lollar-
dy or herefy, together with the ftatute of the fix articles.
None were to be accufed for words, but within a month
afterthey
were fpoken.By
thefe repeals feveral of the
nioft rigorous laws, that ever had palled in England,
were annulled ; and fome dawn, both of civil and reli-
gious liberty, began to appear to the people. Herefy,
however, was ftill a capital crime by the common law,
and was fubje&ed to the penalty of burning. Only*
there remained no precife ftandard, by which that crime
l Rymcr, vol. xv. p, i6-}«h I £dw. vi, c. 12.
could
ment.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 321/481
EDWARD VI. 307
could be defined or determined : A circumftance, which CHA p »
AAA IV,
might either be advantageous or hurtful to public fecurity,<— -,- ^according to the difpofition of the judges.
*-* 7
A repeal alfo paffed of that law, the deftruclion of
all laws, by which the king's proclamation was made of
equal force with a ftatute '. That other law likewife
was mitigated, by which the king was empowered to
annul every ftatute palled before the four and twentieth
year of his age : He could prevent their future execution ;
but could riot recal any pad effects, which had enfued
from them k.
It was alfo enacted, that all who denied the king's
fupremacy, or afferted the pope's, fhould, for the flrft
offence, forfeit their goods and chattels, and fuffer im-
prifonment during pleafure ; for the fecond offence,
fhould incur the penalty of a prtstnunire j and for the
third be attainted of treafon. But if any, after the
flrft of March enfuing, endeavoured, by writing, print-
ing, or any overt act or deed, to deprive the king of his
eftate or titles, particularly of his fupremacy, or to con-
fer them on any other, he was to be adjudged guilty oftreafon. If any of the heirs of the crown fhould ufurp
upon another, or endeavour to break the order of fuccef-
fion, it was declared treafon in them, their aiders and
abettors. Thefe were the moft confiderable acts pafled
during this feflion. The members in general difcovered
avery
pafiive difpofition withregard
toreligion
: Some
few appeared zealous for the reformation : Others fe-„
crecly harboured a ftrong propenfity to the catholic faith :
But the greater part appeared willing to take any impref-
fion, which they fhould receive from intereft, authority,
or the reigning famion '.
The convocation met at the fame time with the par-
liament ; and as it was found, that their debates were at
2Ed'.v. VI. c. 2. ^ Ibid. I Hevlin, p. 4S.
Xz firft
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 322/481
308 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
JS47«
c H A p * firfl: cramped by the rigorous ftatute of the fix artw
Jj cles 7 the king granted them a difpenfation from that law,
before it was repealed by parliamentm
. The lower houfeof convocation applied to have liberty of fitting with the
commons in parliament ; or if this privilege were refufed
them, which they claimed as their ancient right, they
defired, that no law, regarding religion, might pafs in
parliament without their confent and approbation. Butthe
principles,which now
prevailed,were more favour-
able to the civil than to the ecclefiaftical power -,and this-
demand of the convocation was rejected.
r5 4 g. The protector had afTented to the repeal of that law,which gave to the king's proclamations the authority of
ftatutes ; but he did not intend to renounce that arbitraryor difcretionary exercife of power, in iffuing proclamations,,
which had ever been affumed by the crown, and which it
Farthcrpro-is difficult to diftinguim exactly from a full legiflative
gr C f s of thepower. He even continued to exert this authority in fome
reformation., mJ
particulars, which were then regarded as the moft momen-tous. Orders were iflued by council, that candles fhould
nolonger
be carried abouton Candlemas day, allies on
Afh^wednefday, palms on Palm-fundayn
. Thefe were
ancient religious practices, now termed fuperftitions ;
though it is fortunate for mankind, when fuperftition hap-
pens to take a direction fo innocent and- inoffenfive. Thefevere difpofition, which naturally attends all reformers,
prompted likewife the council to abolifh fome gay and f
fhowy ceremonies, which belonged to the ancient religion®.An order was alio iffued by council for the removal of
all images from the churches : An innovation which wasmuch defired by the reformers, and which alone, with
regard to the populace, amounted almoffc to a total change
m Antiq. Britan. p. 339.
wl, iii p.a^i. Heylin, p, 55,
n Burnet, vol. ii. p.59.
Collier,
•Burnet, vol, ii.
•I
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 323/481
EDWARD VI.• 3°9
*tf the eftablifhed religion p. An attempt had been made CHAP.XXXIV
to feparate the ufe of images from their abufe, the reve- *j
rence from the worftiip of them ; but the execution of this *54*«
•defign was found, upon trial, very difficult, if not wholly
impracticable.
As private mafTes wereabolifhed by law, it became ne-
ceffary to compofe a new communion-fervice ; and the
council v/entfo far, in the preface which they prefixed tothis work, as to leave the practice of auricular confelfion
wholly indifferent •*. This was a prelude to the entire
abolition of that invention, one of the raoft powerful
engines that ever was contrived for degrading the laity 9
and giving their fpiritual guides an entire afcendant over
them. And it may juftly be faid, that, though the
prieft's abfolution, which attends confeffion, ferves fome-
what to eafe weak minds from the immediate agonies of
fuperftitious terror, it operates only by enforcing fuper-
ftition itfelf, and thereby preparing the rnind for a more
violent relapfe into the fame diforders.
The people were at that time extremely diftracled, bythe oppofite opinions of their preachers ; and as they were
totally unable to judge of the reafons advanced on either
fide, and naturally regarded every thing which they heard
at church, as of equal authority, a great confufion and
flu&uatiofl refulted from jhis uncertainty. The council
had firft endeavoured to remedy tne inconvenience, by
layingfome reftraints on
preaching; but
findingthis
expedient ineffectual, they impofed a total filence on the
preachers, and thereby put an end at once to all the pole-
mics of the pulpitr
. By the nature of things, this re-
flraint could only be temporary. For in proportion as ths
ceremonies of public worfhip, its {hews and exterior ob-
servances, were retrenched by the reformers, the people
|» Burnet, vol. ii. p. 60, Collier, vol. ii. p. 141. Heyli$, p. 55
S Burnet, vol, ii. * Fuller, Heylin, Burnet.
X ? w<*re
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 324/481
310 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
°XXxWP ' Were inc ^ nec ^ t0 c ontta& a ftronger attachment to fec-
*v
i mons, whence alone they received any occupation orJ
54 s«
amufement. The ancient religion, by giving its votaries
fomething to do, freed them from the trouble of thinking :
Sermons were delivered only in the principal churches,and at fome particular fafts and feftivals : And the prac-tice of haranguing the populace, which, ifabufed, is fo
powerful an incitement to faction and fedition, had muchlefs
fcopeand influence
duringthofe
ages./ffkusof The greater progrefs was made towards a reformation
in England, the farther did the protector find himfelf
from all profpedl: of completing the union with Scotland ;
and the queen-dowager, as well as the clergy, became
the more averfe to all alliance with a nation, which had
fo far departed from all ancient principles. Somerfet,
having taken the town of Haddington, had ordered it to
be ftrongly garrifoned and fortified, by lord Grey : Healfo erected fome fortifications at Lauder : And he hoped,that thefe two places, together with Broughty and fome
fmaller fortreiTes, which were in the hands of the Eng-lish, would ferve as a curb on Scotland ; and would give
him accefs into the heart of thecountry.
Arran, being difappointed in fome attempts on
Broughty, relied chiefly on the fuccours expected from
France, for the recovery of thefe places; and they arrived
at laft in the Frith, to the number of fix thoufand men ;
half of them Germans. They were commanded byDene, and under him by Andelot, Strozzi, Meilleraye,and count Rhingrave. The Scots were at that time fo
funk by their misfortunes, that five hundred Englifh horfe
were able to ravage the whole country without refiftance ;
and make inroads to the gates of the capitals
: But onthe appearance of the French fuccours, they collected
more courage j and having joined Defie with a confider-
» Bcagu6, hilt, of the Campagnes 1548 and 1549, p. 6.
at>!e
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 325/481
EDWARD VI. 3«
able reinforcement, they laid fiege to Haddingtonr
. This CV5 V
A.,
P#
l l r i
XXXIV.was an undertaking for which they were by themfelvesv M
»
totally unfit ; and even with the afliftance of the French, *&*'
they placed their chief hopes of fuccefs in ftarving the
garrifon. After fome vain attempts to take the place bya regular fiege, the blockade was formed, and the gam-Con was repulfed with lofs in feveral fallies which they
made upon the befiegers.
The hoftile attempts, which the late king and the
protector had made againft Scotland, not being fteady,
regular, nor pufhed to the laft extremity, had ferved only
to irritate the nation, and to infpire them with the ftrong-
eit averfion to that union, which was courted in fo
violent a manner. Even thofe who were inclined to the
English alliance, were difpleafed to have it impofed on
them by force of arms ; and the earl of Huntley in parti-
cular, faid pleafantly, that he difliked not the match,
but he hated the manner of wooingu
. The queen-dow-
ager, finding thefe fentiments to prevail, called a parlia-
ment, in an abbey near Haddington ; and it was there
propofed, that the young queen, for her greater fecurity,
fhould be fent to France, and be committed to the cufto-
dy of that ancient ally. Some objected, that this mea-
fure was defperate, allowed no refource in cafe of mif-
carriage, expofed the Scots to be fubjected by foreigners,
involved them in perpetual war with England, and left
them no expedient,by
which they could conciliate the
friendfhip of that powerful nation. It was anfwered, on
the other hand, that the queen's prefence was the verycaufe of war with England ; that that nation would
defift, when they found, that their views of forcing a
marriage had become altogether impracticable ; and that
Henry, being engaged by fo high a mark of confidence,
would take their fovereign under his protection, and ufe
tHollingihcd, p. 993.
uHeylin, p. 46, Patten.
X4 his
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 326/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 327/481
EDWARD VL 3*3
ther to the queen, acquired honour ; in the latter, Are- CHAP.
fkine of Dun. An attempt was made by Sir Robert v__ v _1jBowes and Sir Thomas Palmer, at the head of a confi- *S4**
derable body, to throw relief into Haddington ; but thefe
troops, falling into an ambufcade, were almoft whollycut in pieces
Y. And though a fmall body of two hundred
men efcaped all the vigilance of the French, and arrived
hkly in Haddington, with fome ammunition and pro-
vifions, the garrifon was reduced to fuch difficulties, that
the protector found it neceffary to provide more effectu-
ally for their relief. He railed an army of eighteen thou-
sand men, and adding three thoufand Germans, who, on
the diffolution of the proteftant alliance, had offered their
fervice to England, he gave the command of the whole
to the earl of Shrewfbury z . D'Effe raifed the blockadeon the approach of the Englim ; and with great difficulty
made good his retreat to Edinburgh, where he polled
himfelf advantageoufly. Shrewfbury, who had loft the
opportunity of attacking him on his march, durft not
give him battle in his prefent fituation ; and contentinghimfelf with the advantage already gained, of
fupplyingHaddington, he retired into England.
Though the protection of France was of great confe-
quence to the Scots, in fupporting them againft the inva-
sions of England, they reaped ftill more benefit from the
diffractions and divifions, which had creeped into the
councils of this latter kingdom. Even the two brothers,Cabalg of
the protector and admiral, not content with the high fta-mour.
tions which they feverally enjoyed, and the great emi-
nence to which they had rifen, had entertained the moft
violent jealoufy of each other : and they divided the
whole court and kingdom, by their oppofite cabals and
pretenfions. Lord Seymour was a man of infatiable am-bition
; arrogant, affuming, implacable; and though
y Stowe, p. 595, HolHngifced, p. 934, a Hayward, p. 291.
efteemed
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 328/481
3 T 4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, efteemed of fuperior capacity to the protector, he poffefled
xxxiv.not to the fame degree the confidence and regard of the
people. By his flattery and addrefs, he had fo infinuated
fcimfelf into the good graces of the queen-dowager, that,
forgetting her ufual prudence and decency, fhe married
him immediately upon the demife of the late king : Info-
much that, had fhe foon proved pregnant, it might have
been doubtful to which hufband the child belonged. The
credit and riches of this alliance fupported the ambition
of the admiral ; but gave umbrage to the dutchefs of So-
merfet, who, uneafy that the younger brother's wife
fhould have the precedency, employed all her credit with
her hufband, which was too great, firft to create, then to
widen, the breach between the two brothers a.
The firft fymptoms of this mifunderftanding appeared
when the protector commanded the army in Scotland.
Secretary Paget, a man devoted to Somerfet, remarked,
that Seymour was forming feparate intrigues among the
counfellors ; was corrupting, by prefents, the king's fer-
vants ; and even endeavouring, by improper indulgences
and liberalities, to captivate the affections of the young
monarch. Paget reprefented to him the danger of this
conduct ; defired him to reflect on the numerous enemies,
whom the fudden elevation of their family had created ;
and warned him that any diffention between him and
the protector would be greedily laid hold of, to effect
the ruin of both. Finding his remonftrances neglected,
he conveyed intelligence of the danger to Somerfet, and
engaged him to leave the enterprize upon Scotland un-
finished, in order to guard againft the attempts of his
domeftic enemies. In the enfuing parliament, the admi-
ral's projects appeared ftill more dangerous to public
tranquillity ; and as he had acquired many partizans, he
madea direct attack
uponhis brother's
authority.He
a Hayward, p. 301. Heylin, p. 72, Camden, Thuanus, lib. vi. c. 5.
Haynes, p. 69.T
reprefented
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 329/481
E D W A R D VI. 3JS
reprefented to his friends, that formerly, during a mino-C hap.
rity, the office of protector of the kingdom had been lcept-v
\feparate from that of governor of the king's perfon ; and 154&
that the prefent union of thefe two important trufts con-
ferred on Somerfet an authority, which could not fafely
be lodged in any fubjedr.b
. The young king was even
prevailed on to write a letter to the parliament, defiring
that Seymour might be appointed his governor; and that
nobleman had formed a party in the two houfes, by which
he hoped to effect his purpofe. The defign was difcovered
before its execution ; and fome common friends were fent
to remonflrate with him, but had fo little influence, that he
threw out many menacing expreflions, and raflily threat-
ened, that, if he were thwarted in his attempt, he would
make this parliament the blackeft that ever fat in Eng-land c
. The council fent for him, to anfwer for his con-
duel:; but he refufed to attend: They then began to
threaten in their turn, and informed him, that the king's
letter, inftead of availing him any thing to the execution
of his views, would be imputed to him as a criminal en-
terprize, and be conftrued as adefign
to difturb thego-
vernment, by forming a feparate intereft with a child and
minor. They even let fall fome menaces of fending himto the Tower for his temerity ; and the admiral, findinghimfelf prevented in his defign, was obliged to fubmit,and to defire a reconciliation with his brother.
The mild and moderate temper of Somerfet made him
willing to forget thefe enterprizes of the admiral ; but the
arnbition of that turbulent fpirit could not be fo eafily ap-
peafed. His fpoufe, the queen-dowager, died in child-
bed ; but fo far from regarding this event as a check to
his afpiring views, he founded on it the fcheme of a more
extraordinary elevation. He made his addreffes to the
lady Elizabeth,then in
the fixteenth year of her age; and
b Haynes, p. 82. 90.c Ibid. p. 75,
that
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 330/481
£16 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ~7T!
chap, that princefs, whom even the hurry of bufinefs, and theXXXIV. .
, purfuits of ambition, could not, in her more advanced
154S. years, difengage entirely from the tender paflions, feems
to have liftened to the infinuations of a man, who pof-* fefled every talent proper to captivate the affections of the
fair 6. But as Henry VIII. had excluded his daughters
from all hopes of fuccefiion, if they married without the
confent of his executors, which Seymour could never
hope to obtain ; it was concluded that he meant to
effect his purpofe by expedients ftill more rafh and
more criminal. All the other meafures of the admiral
tended to confirm this fufpicion. He continued to attack,
by prefents, the fidelity of thofe who had more immedi-
ate accefs to the king's perfon : He endeavoured to feduce
theyoung
prince into his interefts : He found means of
holding a private correfpondence with him : He openlydecried his brother's adminiftration ; and afferted, that,
by enlifting Germans, and other foreigners, he intended to
form a mercenary army, which might endanger the king's
authority, and the liberty of the people : By promifesand
perfuafion he brought over to his party many of the prin-
cipal nobility ; and had extended his intereft all over
England : He neglected not even the moft popular per-
fons of inferior rank ; a^l had computed, that he could,
on occafion, mufter an army of 10,000 men, compofed of
his fervants, tenants, and retainers f: He had already pro-
vided arms for their ufe ; and having engaged in his in-
terefts SirJohn Sharington,
acorrupt man,
mafter of
the mint at Briftol, he flattered himfelf that money would
not be wanting. Somerfet was well apprized of all thefe
alarming circumftances, and endeavoured, by the moft
friendly expedients, by intreaty, reafon, and even by heap-
ing new favours upon the admiral, to make him defift
from his dangerous counfels : But finding all endeavours
« Haynes, p. 95. 96. 102. 108. f Ibid, p, 105, 106.
5 ineffecti al,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 331/481
EDWARD VI.
ineffectual, he began to think of more fevere remedies, chap.
Theearl of Warwic was an ill inftrument between the ,
v
'
.
brothers 5 and had formed the defign, by inflaming the *548»
quarrel, to raife his own fortune on the ruins of both.
Dudley, earl of Warwic, was the fon of that Dud- Dudley, earl
01 Wmwhley, minifter to Henry VII. who, having, by rapine, ex-
tortion, and perverfionof law, incurred the hatred of the
public, had been facrifked to popular animofity, in the
beginning of the fubfequent reign. The late king, fen-
fible of the iniquity, at leaft illegality, of the fentence,
had afterwards reftored young Dudley's blood by act of
parliament; and finding him endowed with abilities, in-
duflry, and activity, he had entrufted him with manyi m-
portant commands, and had ever found him fuccefsful
in his undertakings. He raifed him to the dignity of vif-
count Lifle, conferred on him the office of admiral, and
gave him by his will a place among his executors. Dud-
ley made ltill farther progrefs during the minority ; and
having obtained the title of earl of Warwic, and under-
mined the credit of Southampton, he bore the chief rank
among the protector's counfellors. Thevictory,
gained
at Pinkey, was much afcribed to his courage and conduct;
and he was univerfally regarded as a man equally endow-ed with the talents of peace and of war. But all thefe
virtues were obfcured by ftill greater vices ; an exorbitant
ambition, an infatiable avarice, a neglect of decency, a
contempt of juftice : And as he found, that lord Seymour,whofe abilities and enterprizing fpirit he chiefly dreaded,
was involving himfelf in ruin by his ram counfels, h«
was determined to pufh him on the precipice; and therebyremove the chief obftacle to his own projected greatnefs.
When Somerfet found, that the public peace was en-
dangered by his brother's feditious, not to fay rebellious,
fchemes,he was the more
eafily perfuaded by Warwicto
employ tfce extent of royal authority againft him ; 2nd
after
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 332/481
3 i8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ;
CHAP, after depriving; him of the office of admiral, he figned a
^
'
jwarrant for committing him to the Tower. Some of his
*548. accomplices were alfo taken into cuftody, and three privy
counfellors, being fent to examine them, made a report,
that they had met with very full and important discove-
ries. Yet ftill the protector fufpended the blow, and
Ihowed a reluctance to ruin his brother. He offered to
defift from the profecution, if Seymour would promife
him a cordial reconciliation ; and renouncing all am-bitious hopes, be contented with a private life, and re-
tire into the country. But as Seymour made no other
anfwer to thefe friendly offers than menaces and defiances,
he ordered a charge to be drawn up againft him, confin-
ing of thirty-threearticles ?
; and the whole to be laid
before the privy council. It is pretended, that every par-
ticular was fo inconteftibly proved, both by witnefTes and
his own hand-writing, that there was no room for doubt $
yet did the council think proper to go in a body to the
Tower, in order more fully to examine the prifoner. He
was not daunted by the appearance : He boldly demanded
a fair trial ; required to be confronted by the witnefTes ;
defired that the charge might be left with him, in order
to be confidered ; and refufed to anfwer any interrogato-
ries, by which he might accufe himfelf.
It is apparent, that, notwithftanding what is pre-
tended, there muft have been fome deficiency in the evi-
dence againft Seymour, when fuch demands, founded on
the plaineft principlesof law and
equity,were
abfolutely
rejected. We fhall indeed conclude, if we carefully ex-
amine the charge, that many of the articles were general,
and fcarcely capable of any proof; many of them, if true,
fufceptible of a more favourable interpretation ;and that,
though, on the whole, Seymour appears to have been a
dangerous fubject, he had not advanced far in thofe trea-
g Burnet, vol. ii. Coll. 31. a & 3 Edw, VI. c. i3.
fonable
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 333/481
E D W A R D VI. 3 i 9
fonable projects imputed to him. The chief part of hrs chap.xxxrv
actualguilt
feems to have confifted in fome unwarrantabley V
practices in the admiralty, by which pyrates were pro- «54*.
tected, and illegal impofitions laid upon the merchants.
But the adminiftration had, at that time, an eafy in-
ftrument of vengeance, to wit, the Parliament ; and
needed not to give themfelves any concern with regard
either to the guilt of the perfons whom they profecuted,
or the evidence which could be produced againft them.
A feflion of parliament being held, it was refolved to pro- A parlla-
ceed againft Seymour by bill of attainder; and the young "Jj^Jj
king being induced, after much folicitation, to give his
confent to it, a confiderable weight was put on his appro-bation. The matter was firft laid before the upper-houfe;and feveral peers, rifing up in their places, gave an ac-
count of what they knew concerning lord Seymour'sconduct and his criminal words or actions. Thefe narra- 1549.
tives were received as undoubted evidence; and though i or( j g ey .
the prifoner had formerly engaged many friends and par-mour *
tizans among the nobilitv, no one had either the courage
or equity to move, that he might be heard in his de-
fence, that the teftimony againft him fhould be delivered
in a legal manner, and that he fhould be confronted with
the witnclTes. A little more fcruple was made in the
houfe of commons : There were even fome members who
objected againft the whole method of proceeding by bill
of attainder, paiTed in abfence ; and infifted, that a for-
mal trial mould be given to every man before his con-demnation. But when a meflage was fent by the king, en- ^^joining the houfe to proceed, and offering that the fame
narratives fhould be laid before them which had fatisfied
the peers, they were eafily prevailed on to acquiefceh
.
The bill pafTed in a full houfe. Near four hundred voted
for it ; not above nine or ten againft it j. The fen-
fe 2 & 3 Edw. VI. c, 18, i Burnet, vol. ii, p. 99.
tence
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 334/481
Al affairs.
320 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, tence was foon after executed, and the prifoner was be-
XXXIV,u ^
'
theaded on Tower-hill. The warrant was figned by So-
1548. merfet, who was expofed to much blame, on account ofHis exccu-
tion. the violence of thefe proceedings. The attempts of the
admiral feem chiefly to have been levelled againft his
brother's ufurped authority ; and though his ambitious,
enterprizing character, encouraged by a marriage with
the lady Elizabeth, might have endangered the public
tranquillity, the prudence of forefeeing evils at fuch a
diftance, was deemed too great ; and the remedy was
plainly illegal. It could only be faid, that this bill of
attainder was fomewhat more tolerable than the preceding
ones, to which the nation had been enured. For here, at
leaft, fome fhadow of evidence was produced.
Ecclefiafti- All the confiderable bufinefs tranfacted this fefllOA
befides the attainder of lord Seymour, regarded ecclefiaf-
tical affairs ; which were now the chief object of atten-
tion throughout the nation. A committee of bifhops and
divines had been appointed by the council, to compofe a
liturgy ; and they had executed the work committed to
them. They proceeded with moderation in this delicate
undertaking : They retained as much of the ancient mafs
as the principles of the reformers would permit : Theyindulged nothing to the fpirit of contradiction, which
fo naturally takes place in all great innovations: And they
flattered themfelves, that they had eftablifhed a fervice,
in which every denomination of Chriftians might, with-
out fcruple, concur. The mafs had always been cele-
brated in Latin ; a practice which might have been deemed
abfurd, had it not been found ufeful to the clergy, by
imprefling the people with an idea of fome myfterious unr
known virtue in thofe rites, and by checking all their
pretenfions to be familiarly acquainted with their religion.
But as the reformerspretended,
in fome fewparticulars,
to encourage private judgment in the laity, the tranfla-
- ti©n
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 335/481
EDWARD VI. ptt<on of the liturgy, as well as of the Scriptures, into the chap.
-vulvar tongue,feemed more conformable to the
geniusof . '.
their feel ; and this innovation, with the retrenching of 1549.
prayers to faints, and of fome fuperftitious ceremonies,
was the chief difference between the old mafs and the
new liturgy. The parliament efrablifhed this form of
worfhip in all the churches, and ordained a uniformity to
be obferved in all the rites and ceremonies k.
There was another material act, which pafFcd this
feffion. The former canons had eftablimed the celibacy
of the clergy; and though this practice is ufually afcribed
to the policy of the court of Rome, who thought, that
the ecclefiaftics would be more devoted to their fpiritual
head, and lefs dependant on the civil magiftrate, when
freed from the powerful tye of wives and children; yet
was this inftitution much forwarded by the principles of
fuperflition inherent in human nature. Thefe principles
had rendered the panegyrics on an inviolatechaftity fo
frequent among the ancient fathers, long before the efta-
blifhment of celibacy. And even this parliament, though
theyenacted a
law, permittingthe
marriageof
pri'efts*
yet confefs in the preamble," that it were better for
"prieiLS and the minifters of the -church to live chafle
<c and without marriage, and it were much to be Wifhe'd
"they would of themfelves abftain.*' The inconveni-
eneies, which had arifen from the compelling of chaftity
and the prohibiting of marriage, are the reafons aligned
for indulging a liberty in this particularl
. The ideas
of penance alfo were fo much retained in other parti-
culars, that an act of parliament paflfed, forbidding the
ufe of flefh-meat during Lent and other times of absti-
nence m .
k 1 & 3 Edw. VI. c. T. 1 2 & 3 Edvr. VI. can. 2 t.
m »& 3 Ed.VI cap 19. See note [Q^] at the end of the volume.
Vol. IV. Y The
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 336/481
3 22 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.^yvv"*/*' The principal tenets and practices of the catholic re*
*v -ligion were now abolifhed, and the reformation, fuch as
'549' jt is enjoyed at prefent, was almoft entirely completed in
England. But the doctrine of the real prefence, though
tacitly condemned by the new communion-fervice and bythe abolition of many ancient rites, ftill retained fome
hold on the minds of men ; and it was the laft doctrine
of popery, that was wholly abandoned by the peoplen
.
The great attachment of the late king to that tenet might,
in part, be the ground of this obftinacy ; but the chief caufe
was really the extreme abfurdity of the principle itfelf,
and the profound veneration, which of courfe it imprefTed
on the imagination. The priefts likewife were much in-
clined to favour an opinion, which attributed to them fo
miraculous a power ; and the people, who believed, that
they participated of the very body and blood of their Sa-
viour, were loth to renounce fo extraordinary, and as they
imagined, fo falutary a privilege. The general attach-
ment to this dogma was fo violent, that the Lutherans,
notwithstanding their feparation from Rome, had thought
proper,under another
name,ftill to retain it : And the
catholic preachers, in England, when retrained in all
other particulars, could not forbear, on every occafion*
inculcating that tenet, Bonner, for this offence amongothers, had been tried by the council, had been de-
prived of his fee, and had been committed to cuftody.
Gardiner aifo, who had recovered his liberty, appeared
anew refractory to the authority, which eftablifhed the
late innovations ; and he feemed willing to countenance
that opinion, much favoured by all the Englifh catholics,
that the king was indeed fupremehead of the church, but
not the council, during a minority. Having declined to
give full fatisfacVion on this head, he was fent to the
* Eurnet, vol. ii, cap. 104,
7 Tower,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 337/481
EDWARD VI, 3 2 3
Tower, and threatened with farther effects of the coun- c hap.• .,, i
•,- i r XXX IV.
Cil s difpleaiure. t »
These feverities, being exercifed en men, poiTefled of *549«
office and authority* feemed, in that age, a r.eceffary po-
licy, in order to enforce a uniformity in public worfhip
and difcipline : But there were other inftances of perfe-
ction, derived from no origin but the bigotry of theolo-
gians ;a
malady,which feems alrhoft incurable.
Thoughthe proteftant divines had ventured to renounce opinions,
deemed certain during many ages, they regarded, in
their turn, the new fyftem as fo certain, that they would
fuffer no contradiction with regard to it ; and they were
ready to burn in the fame flames, from v/hich they them-
felves had (o narrowly efcaped, every one that had the
affurance to differ from them. A commiffion by a£k of
council was granted to the primate and fome others, to
examine and fearch after all anabaptifts, heretics, or con-
temners of the book of common prayer °. The com-
miflioners were injoined to reclaim them, if poflible.; to"
impofe penance on them j and to give them abfolution ;
Or if thefe criminals were obftinate, to excommunicateand imprifen them, and to deliver them over to the fecu-
iar arm : And in the execution of this charge, they were*
not bound to obferve the ordinary methods o^ trial ; the
forms of law were difpenfed with; and if any flatutes
happened to interfere with the powers in the ccmmiilion,
theywere over-ruled arid
abrogated bythe council. Some
tradefmen in London were brought before thefe commif-
fionersj and were accufed cf maintaining, among other
opinions, that a man regenerate could not fin, and that,
though the outward man might offend, the inward was
incapable of all guilt. They were prevailed on to abjure^
and were difrnifted. But there was a woman accufed cf
heretical pravity, called Joan Bocher, or Joan of Kent,
Burnet, vol. ii. p. 3. Kymer, torn. xv. p, 18 £,
Y 2 yphm
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 338/481
3 24 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP. wno was f pertinacious, that the commifiioners could
i . i make no impreffion upon her Her doctrine was, " 1 hat'S^* " Chrift was not truly incarnate of the virgin, whofe
ccflefh, being the outward man, was finfully begotten
M and born in fin ; and confequently, he could take none<c of it : But the word, by the confent of the inward man<c of the virgin, was made flefh p." This opinion, it
would feem, is not orthodox; and there was a neceflity
for delivering the woman to the flames for maintaining it.o oBut the voung kino; though in fuch tender vears, had
•more fenfe than all his counfellors and preceptors; and
he long refufed to fign the warrant for her execution.
Cranmer was employed to perfuade him to compliance;and he laid, that there was a great difference between er-
rors in other points of divinity, and thofe which werein direct contradiction to the Apoftlescreed : Thefe latter
were impieties againft God, which the prince, being
God's deputy, ought to reprefs ; in like manner, as infe-•
rior magiftrates were bound to punifh offences againft the
king's perfon. Edward, overcome by importunity, at
laft lubmitted, though with tears in his eyes ; and he told
Cranmer, that, if any wrong were done, the guilt mould
lie entirely on his head. The primate, after making a
new effort to reclaim the woman from her errors, and
finding her obftinate againft all his arguments, at laft
committed her to the flames. Some time after, a Dutch-
man, called Van Paris, accufed of the herefy, which has
received the name of Arianifm, was condemned to the
fame punifhment. Ke iuffered with fo much fatisfacKon,
that he hugged and carefTed the faggots, that were con-
•fuming h m ; a fpecies of frenzy, of which there is more
than one tnftance among the martyrs of that age i,
P Burnet, vol. ii. col', 55, Strype's Mem. Cranm. p. 1S1.
9 Durnei, »u . ..'.p. 112. Strype's Mem. Cranm. p. iSi.
• These
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 339/481
E D W A R D VI. 325
These rigorous methods of proceeding foon broughtc hap.
the whole nation to a conformity, feeming or real, with'
*
the new doctrine and the new liturgy. The lady Mary1 S49»
alone continued to adhere to the mafs, and refufed to ad-
mit the eflablifhed modes of worfhip. When preffed and
menaced on this head, fhe applied to the emperor ; who,
ufing his intereft with Sir Philip Hobby, the Englifh am-
bafTador, procured her a temporary connivancefrom the
council r.
r Heylin, p. 102.
Y3
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 340/481
p£ HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
G H A P. XXXV.
pifcontenU of the people-, InfurreBions Con-
du5f of the war with Scotland -with France
- Factions in the council Conspiracy againfi
Somerjet Sonierfet rejigns the proteclcrjhip
A parliament Peace with France and Scotland
<
Boulogne furrendered Perfection of Gar-
diner—. —Warwic created duke of Northumberland
His ambition Trial of Somerfet His
execution** -A parliament A new parliament
Succeffion changed The kingfsfuknefs
and death,
CHAP. rX^HERE is no abufe To great, in civil fociety, as
XXXV. j^ nQt tQ | 3e attenc | cJ w ; tn a variety of beneficial con-
,- 4a . fequences ; and in the beginnings of reformation, the
Pifcontenta j o ^g f t fefe advantages is always felt very fenfibly, whileof the peo- n. s> J > - / »
pie, the benefit, refulting from the change, is the flow effecT:
of time, and is feldom perceived by the bulk of a na-
tion. Scarceany inftitution can be imagined lefs favour-
able, in the main, to the interefts of mankind than that;
of monks and friars ; yet was it followed by many good
efFects, which, havingceafed
bythe
fupprcffionof mo-
naileries, were much regretted by the people of England.
The monks, always refiding in their convents, in the
centre of their eftates, fpent their money in the provinces
and among their tenants, afforded a ready market for
commodities, were a fure refource to the poor and indi-
gent j and though their hofpitality and charity gave but
too much encouragement to idlenefs, and prevented the
cncreafe of public riches^ yet did it provide^ to many, a
relief
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 341/481
E D W A R D _ VI. 327
relief from the extreme preflures of want and neceflity.c ™A.P,
It is alfo obfervable, that, as the friars were limited, by v ,. „ ^Ljthe rules of their inftitution, to a certain mode of liv- »549«
ing, they had not equal motives for extortion with other
men; and they were acknowledged to have been in
England, as they ftill are in Roman catholic countries,
the befl and mod indulgent landlords. The abbots and
priorswere
permittedto give leafes at an under- value,
and to receive, in return, a large prefent from the te-
nant ; in the fame manner as is ftill pradlifed by the bi-
fhops and colleges. But when the abbey-lands were
diftributed among the principal nobility and courtiers, they
fell under a different management: The rents of farms
were raifed, while the tenants found not the fame facility
in difpofing of the produce; the money was often fpent
in the capital ; and the farmers, living at a diftance, were
expofed to oppreflion from their new matters, or to the (till
greater rapacity of the ftewards.
These grievances of the common people were at that
time heightened by other caufes. The arts of manu-
facture were much more advanced in other Europeancountries than in England ; and even in England thefe
arts had made greater progrefs than the knowledge of
agriculture; a profeflion, which, of all mechanical em-
ployments, requires the mod reflection and experience.
A great demand arofe for wool both abroad and atohome : Pafturage was found more profitable than un-
skilful tillage : Whole eftates were laid wafte by inclo-
fures : The tenants regarded as a ufelefs burden, were ex-
pelled their habitations : Even the cottagers, deprived of
the commons, on which they formerly fed their cattle,
were reduced to mifery : And a decay of people, as
well as a diminution of the former plenty, was remarked
in the kingdom 3 , This grievance was now of an old
s Strype, vol. u. Repofitory Q^
T 4 date 3
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 342/481
328 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.Ch a P. date
; and Sir Thomas More, alluding to it, obfervesxxwi_I L/in
bisUtopia, that
afheep had become in England
a
J 54P» more ravenous animal than a lion or wolf, and devoured
whole villages, cities, and provinces.
The general encreafe alio of gold and filver in Eu-
rope, after the difcovery of the Weft- Indies, had a ten-
dency to inflame thefe complaints. The growing demand
in the more commercial countries, had heightened every,v/here the price of commodities, which could eafily be
tranfported thither; but in England, the labour of men,who could net fo eafily change their habitation, ftill re-
mained nearly at the ancient rates; and the poor com-
plained that they could no longer gain a fubfiftence bytheir inuufrry. it was by an addition alone of toil and
application they were enabled to procure a maintenance;and though this encreafe of induftry was at laft the
efrecl: of the prefent fituation, and an effect beneficial to
fociety, yet was it difficult for the people to fhake off
itheir former habit's of indolence ;and nothing but ne-
cemty could compel them to fuch an exertion of their
faculties.
It mud al fo be remarked, that the profusion of HenryVIII. had reduced him, notwith {landing his rapacity,
to fuch difficulties, that lie had been oblige J to remedya prefent neccfiity, by the pernicious expedient of debaf-
ing the coin ; and the warn, in which the protector had
been" involved, had induced him to carry frill farther the
f-mc abu'fe. The ufual confequences enfued: The good
fpecie was hoarded or exported ; bafe metal was coined
at home or imported from abroad in great abundance ;
the common people, who received their wages in it,
could not purchafe commodities at the ufual rates ; a
univcrfal diffidence ar.d fir'aghation of commerce took
place ; and loud complaints were heard in every part of
pngland«t •*•
* Thl
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 343/481
E" D W A R D VI.i*Z
The proteclor who loved popularity, and pitied the C H a p.
condition of the people, encouraged thefe complaints by t
^*j
his endeavours to redrefs them. He appointed a com- 1549*
million for making enquiry concerning inclofures; and
iiTued a proclamation, ordering all late inclofures to be
laid open by a day appointed. The populace, meetingwith fuch countenance from government, began to rife
in feveralplaces,
and to commitdiforders,
but were
quieted by remonilrances and perfuafion. In order to
give them greater fatisfa£tion, Somerfet appointed new
commilHoners, whom he fent every where, with an un-
limited power to hear and determine all caufes about in-
clofures, highways, and cottagesl
. As this commif-
fion was difagreeable to the gentry and nobility, they
ftigmatized it as arbitrary and illegal ; and the common
people, fearing it would be eluded, and being impatient
for immediate redrefs, could no longer contain their fury,but fought for a remedy by force of arms. The rifing infurrec-
fcegan at once in feveral parts of England, as if an uni- uonSm
verfal con fpi racy had been formed by the commonalty.
The rebels in Wiltfhire v/ere difperfed by Sir WilliamHerbert : Thofe in the neighbouring counties, Oxford
and Glccefter, by lord Gray of Wilton. Many of the
rioters were killed in the field : Others were executed bymartial law. The commotions in Hampfhire, SufTex,
Kent, and other counties, were quieted by gentler expe-dients ; but the diforders in Devonfhire and Norfolk threat-
cd more dangerous cor.iequences.
The commonalty in Devon/hire began with the ufuaj
complaints againft inclofures and againil opprefnons from
the gentry ; but the parifh priefl of Sarnpford-Courtenayhad the ixddrek to give their difcontent a direction towards
religion ; and the delicacy of the fubjecr, in the prefent
emergency, made the i.nfurre£lion immediately appear
*
Eurn?t, vol, ii. p. 115. Strype, vol, ii, p. 171.
formidable.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 344/481
33« HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A P. formidable. In other counties, the gentry had keptclofely
v^—v—
' united withgovernment;
but heremany
of them took
*549. p ar t with the populace ; among others, Humphry Arun-
del, governor of St. Michael's Mount. The rioters
were brought into the form of a regular army, which
amounted to the number of ten thoufand. Lord Rufiei
had been fent againft them at the head of a fmall force ;
but Ending himfelf too weak to encounter them in
the field, he kept at a diftance, and began to nego-ciate with them ; in hopes of eluding their fury by de«
Jay, and of difperfing them by the difficulty of their fub-
fifting in a body. Their demands were, that the mafs
fhould be reftored, half of the abbey-lands refumed, the
law of the fix articles executed, holy water and holy
bread refpedled, andall other
particular grievances re-drefTed u
. The council to whom Ruflel tranfmitted thefe
demands, fent a haughty anfwer ; commanded the rebels
to difperfe, and promifed them pardon upon their im-
mediate fubmiffion. Enraged at this difappointmenr,
they marched to Exeter; carrying before them crofTes*
banners^ holy-water, candlefticks, and other implements
of ancient fuperftition ; together with the hofte, which
they covered with a canopyw
. The citizens of Exe-
ter fhut their gates ; and the rebels, as they had no can-
non, endeavoured to take the place, firft by fcalade, then
by mining, but were repulfed in every attempt. RufTei
meanwhile lay at Honiton, till reinforced by Sir William
Herbert, and lord Gray, with feme German horfe, and
fome Italian arquebufiers under Battifta Spinola. He
then refolved to attempt the relief of Exeter, which was
now reduced to extremities. He attacked the rebels,
drove them from all their polls, did great execution
upon them both in the action and purfuitx
, and took
u Hjyward, p. 29,2. Hrllingfhed, p. ICC3. Fox, vol.ii.
p. 666. Mem.Cranro. p. 18S. w
Heyljn, p. 76.* Stowe's Annals, p. 597'
H-yward, p. 295.
many
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 345/481
EDWARD VI. 33*
many prlfoners. Arundel and the other leaders were e H a P.XXXV
fent to London, tried and executed. Many of the infe- t,
" *
f
rior fort were put to death by martial law y : The vicar i549»
of St. Thomas, one of the principal incendiaries, was
hanged on the top of his own fteeple, arrayed in his po~
pifh weeds, with his beads at his girdlez
.
The infurrection in Norfolk rofe to a ftill greater
height,and was attended with
greateracts of
violence*The populace were at firft excited, as in other places,
by complaints againft inclofures ; but finding their num-bers amount to twenty thoufand, they grew infolent, and
proceeded to more exorbitant pretenfions. They required
the fuppreffion of the gentry, the placing of new coun-
fellors about the king, and the re-eftablifhment of the
ancient rites. One Ket, a tanner, had afTumed the go-vernment over them, and he exercifed his authority with
the utmoft arrogance and outrage. Having taken pof-
feffion of Moumold-Hill near Norwich, he erected his
tribunal under an old oak, thence called the oak of re-
formation ; and fummoning the gentry to appear before
him, he gave fuch decrees as might be expected from his
character and fituation. The marquis of Northamptonwas firft ordered againft him ; but met with a repulfe, in
an action, where lord Sheffield was killed a. The pro-
tector affected popularity, and cared not to appear in per-
fon againft the rebels : He therefore fent the earl of
Warwic at the head of 6000 men, levied for the wars
againft Scotland ; and he thereby afforded his mortal
enemy an opportunity of encreafing his reputation and
character. Warwic, having tried fome fkirmifhes with
the rebels, at laft made a general attack upon them, and
put them to flight. Two thoufand fell in the action and
purfuit : Ket was hanged at Norwich caftle ; nine of his
y Hayward, p. 295,296. 2 Heylin, p. 76. Holiingflied, p. loz6.
a Stov.e, p. 597. H.ciiingihedj p. 103c— 34. Stry^e, vol. ii. p. 174.
follower?
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 346/481
thewaiwiihScotland .
3S 2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap, followers on the boughs of the oak of reformation ; and
i i the infurredtion wasentirely fupprefled.
Some rebels in
*549« Yorkfhire, learning the fate of their companions, accept-
ed the offers of pardon, and threw down their arms, Ageneral indemnity was foon after publifhed by the pro-
tector b.
Coniuaof But though the infurreclions were thus quickly fub-
dued in England, and no traces of them feemed to re-
main, they were attended with bad confequences to the
foreign interefts of the nation. The forces of the earl
of Warwic, which might have made a great imprefiion
on Scotland, were diverted from that enterprize; and the
French general had leifure to reduce that country to fome
fe-ttlement and compofure. He took the fortrefs of
Broughty,and
putthe
garrifonto the fword. He flrait-
ened the Englifli at Haddington ; and though lord
Dacres was enabled to throw relief into the place, and
to reinforce the garrifon, it was found at laft very charge-
able, and even impracticable, to keep pofleffion of that
fortrefs. The whole country in the neighbourhood was
laid wafte by the inroads both of the Scots and Englifh,
and could afford no fupply to the garrifon : The place
lay above thirty miles from the borders ; fo that a regular
army was necefTary to efcort any provifions thither : And
as the plague had broken out among the troops, they
periflied daily, and were reduced to a ftate of great weak-
nefs. For thefe reafons, orders were given to difmantle
Haddington, andto
conveythe
artilleryand
garrifonto
Berwic -,and the earl of Rutland, now created warden
of the eaft marches, executed the orders.
The kins; of France alfo took advantage of the dif-
innce. tractions among the Engliih, and made an attempt to
recover Boulogne, and that territory, which Henry VIII.
fc Hay ward, p. 297^ 798, 199*
had
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 347/481
E D W A R D VI. 333
had conquered from France. On other pretences, he c Hr
a P*
afTembled an army ; and falling fuddenly upon the Bou- v
v $
lonnois, took the carries of Sellaque, Blacknefs, and *5**
Ambleteufe, though well fupplied with garrifons, ammu-
nition, and provifionsc
. He endeavoured to furprize
Boulenberg, and was repulfed ; but the garrifon, not
thinking the place tenable after the lofs of the other for-
treiTes, deftroved the works, andretired to
Boulogne.The rains, which fell in great abundance during the au-
tumn, and a peflilential diftemper, which broke out in
the French camp, deprived Henry of all hopes of fuccef,
acrainft Boulogne itfclf 5 and he retired to Paris d. He
left the command of the army to Gafpar de Coligny, lord
of Chatillon, fo famous afterwards by the name of admi-
ral Coligny ; and he gave him orders to form the fiege
early in the fpring. The active difpofition of this ge-
neral engaged him to make, during the winter, feveral
attempts againft the place j but they all proved unfuc-
cefsful.
Strozzi, who commanded the French fleet and gal-
leys, endeavoured to make a defcent on Jerfey j but
meeting there with an Engliih fleet, he commenced an
aclion, which feems not to have been decifive, fince trve
hiftorians of the two nations differ in their account of
the event e.
As foon as the French war broke out, the protecfor
endeavoured to fortify himfelf with the alliance of the
emperor ; and he fent over fecretary Paget to BruiTels,
where Charles then kept court, in order to afiift Sir Phi-
lip Hobby, the refident ambarTador, in this negociation.
But that prince had formed a defign of extending his do-
minions by acting the part of champion for the catholic
»
cThuanus,
lib. vi. c.6-
dPlay ward, p. 300.
e Thuan.
King Edward's Journal, Stowe, p. 597.
religion \
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 348/481
334 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C h A P.
religion ; and though extremely defirous of accepting th£
t
*
j
Englifhalliance
againftFrance, his
capital enemy,he
'549- thought it unfuitable to his other pretenfiOns to enter
into ftrict confederacy with a nation^ which had broken
off" all connexions with the church of Rome. He there-
fore declined the advances of friendship from England >
and eluded the applications of the ambaffadors. An ex-
act: account is preferved of this negociation in a letter of
Hobby's ; and it is remarkable, that the emperor, in a
converfation with the Englifti minifters, afTerted that the
prerogatives of a king of England were more extenfive
than thofe of a king of France f. Burnet, who preferves
this letter, fubjoins, as a parallel inftance, that one ob-
jection, which the Scots made to marrying their queenwith
Edward,was
?that all their
privilegeswould be
fwallowed up by the great prerogative of the kings of
England s.
Somerset, defpairing of aiTiftance from the emperor
was inclined to conclude a peace with France and Scot-
land ; and befides that he was not in a condition to
maintain fuch ruinous wars, he thought, that there nd
longer remained any object of hoftility. The Scots had
fent away their queen ; and could not, if ever fo much in-
clined, complete the marriage contracted with Edward :
And as Henry VIII. had Stipulated to reftore Boulogne in
1554, it feemed a matter of fmall moment to anticipate,
a few years, the execution of the treaty. But when he
propofed thefe reafons to the council, he met with ftrong
oppofition from his enemies, who, feeing him unable to
fupport the war, were determined, for that very reafon*
to oppofe all propofals for a pacification. The factions
rf-an high in the court of England ; and matters were
drawing to an iiiuej fatal to the authority of the pro-
tector.
* Burnet, vol. ii. p. 132, 175, S Idem; p. 133.
Aftef.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 349/481
EDWARD VL 335
After Somerfet obtained the patent, inverting him chap.
with regal authority, he no longer paid any attention to ^_ y
the opinion of the other executors and counfellors ; and H&*.r_
"Factions in
being elated with his high dignity, as well as with his the council,
victory at Pinkey, he thought, that every one ought, in
every thing, to yield to his fentiments. All thofe who
were not entirely devoted to him, were fure to be ne-
glected; whoever oppofed his will received marks of
angeror contempt
h; and while he fhewed a refolution to go-
vern every thing, his capacity appeared not, in any re-
fpect, proportioned to his ambition. Warwic, more
fubtle and artful, covered more exorbitant views under
fairer appearances -,and having aiTociated himfelf with
Southampton, who had been re-admitted into the council,
he formed a flrong party, who were determined to free
themfelves from the flavery, impofed on them by the pro-
tector.
The malcontent counfellors found the difpofition of
the nation favourable to their defigns. The nobility and
gentry were in general difpleafed with the preference,
which Somerfet feemed to have given to the people ; andas they afcribed all the infults, to which they had been
lately expofed, to his procraftination, and to the counte-
nance fhown to the multitude, they apprehended a renewal
of the fame diforders from his prefent affectation of popu-
larity. He had erected a court of requefts in his own houfe
for the relief of the people *, and he interpofed with the
judges in their behalf 3 ameafure which might be deemed
illegal, if any exertion of prerogative, at that time, could
with certainty deferve that appellation. And this at-
tempt, which was a ftretch of power, feemed the more
impolitic, beeaufe it difgufted the nobles, the fureft fup--
port of monarchical authority.
fr Strype, vol»ii, p. i&g. * Ibid. p. i8j.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 350/481
336 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP. But though Somerfet courted the people, the intefefh
xxxv.t
'
/ which he had formed with them, was in no degree an-
*54;» fwerable to his expectations. The catholic party, whoretained influence with the lower ranks, were his declared
enemies ; and took advantage of every opportunity to des-
cry his condudh The attainder and execution of his
brother bore an odious afpeft: The introduction of fo-
reign troops into the kingdom, was reprefented in invi-
dious colours : The great eftate, which he had fuddenly
acquired, at the expence of the church and of the crown,rendered him obnoxious : and the palace, which he was
building in the Strand, ferved, by its magnificence, and
Hill more by other circumftances which attended it, to
.cxpofe him to the cenfure of the public. The parifh
church of St.Mary,
with threeblfhops' houfes,
was
pulled down, in order to furnifh ground and materials
for this ftruclure : Not content with that facrilege, an
•attempt was made to demclifh St. Margaret's, Weflmin-
fter, and to employ the Hones to the fame purpofe; but
the parifhioners rofe in a tumult, and chaced away the
protector's tradefmen, He then laid his hands on achapeJ
in St. Paul's Church yard, with a cloifcer, and charnel-
houfe belonging to it; and thefe edifices, together with a
church of St. John of Jerufaiem, were made ufe of to
raife his palace. What rendered the matter more odious
to the people, was that the tombs and other monuments
of the dead were defaced ; and the bones, being carried
away, were buried in unconfecrated grouncj!:
.
6th 0&ob« All thefe imprudences were remarked by Gomerfet's
enemies, who rcfolved to take advantage of them. Lord
St. John, prefident of the council, the earls of Warwic,
.Southampton, and Arundel, with five members more,
againftSo- met at Ely-houfe; and afiuming to themfelves the wholemerle:.
k Hejlin, p, 7», 73. Stowe's Survey of London, Hay ward, p. 303.
power.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 351/481
E D W A R D VI. 337
power of the council, began to act independantly of the C H \ P.
protector, whom tney reprefented as the author of every l _^ v- ^ J
public grievance and misfortune. They wrote letters to *549-
the chief nobility and gentry in England, informing them
of the prefent meafures, and requiring their affiftance :
They fent for the mayor and aldermen of London, and
enjoined them to obey their orders, without regard to any
contrary orders, which they might receive from the duke
of Somerfet. They laid the fame injunctions on the
lieutenant of the Tower, who exprefled his refolutionto
comply with them. Next day, Rich, lord chancellor,
the marquis of Northampton, the carl of Shrewfbury,Sir Thomas Cheney, Sir John Gage, Sir Ralph Sadler,
and chief juftice Montague, joined the malcontent coun-
feliors ; and every thing bore a bad afpect for the protec-
tor's authority. Secretary Petre, whom he had fent to
treat with the council, rather chofe to remain with them :
The common council of the city, being applied to, de-
clared with one voice their approbation of the new mea-
fures, and their refolution of fupporting them ]
.
As foonas the
protectorheard of the
defection of thecounfellors, he removed the king from Hampton- court,
where he then refided, to the caftleof Wind for; and,
arming his friends and fervants, feemed refolute to defend
himfelf againft all his enemies. But finding, that no
man of rank, except Cranmer and Paget, adhered to him,that the people did not rife at his fummons, that the
City and Tower had declared againft him, that even his
beft friends had deferred him, he loft all hopes of fuccefs,
and began to apply to his enemies for pardon and for-
givenefs. No fooner was this defpondency known, than
lord RufTel, Sir John Baker, fpeaker of the houfe of com-
mons, and three counfellors more, who had hitherto re-
mained neuters, joined the party of Warwic, whom every
1 Stowe, p. 597, 598. Hoilingflied, p. 1057.
Vol. IV. Z one
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 352/481
338 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c h A P. one now regarded as matter. The council informed the
•-_ v'
j public, by proclamation, of their actions and intentions ;
1549* they wrote to the princeffes, Mary and Elizabeth, to the
fame purpofe ; and they made addrefTes to the king, in
which, after the humbleft proteftations of duty and fub-
milTion, they informed him, that they were the council
appointed by his father, for the government of the king-dom during his minority ; that they had chofen the duke
of Somerfet protector, under the expnfs condition, thathe fhouid guide himfelf by their advice and direction ;
that he had ufurped the whole authority, and had neglect-
ed, and even in every thing oppofed, their counfel ; that
he had proceeded to that height of prefumption, as to
levy forces againft. them, and place thefe forces about his
majefty's perfon : They therefore begged, that they
might be admitted to his royal prefence, that he would
be pleafed to reftore them to his confidence, and that So-
merfet's fervants might be difmified. Their requeft was
Somerfet complied with : Somerfet capitulated only for gentle treat-
refigns the ment, which was promifed him. He was, however, fentproteflor-
'
r . r . .
/hip. to the Tower m, with iome of his friends and partizans,
among whom was Cecil, afterwards fo much diftinguifh-
ed. Articles of indictment were exhibited againft him n;
of which the chief, at leaft the beft founded, is his ufur-
pation of the government, and his taking into his ownhands the whole admin iftration of affairs. The cJaufe of
his patent, which inverted him with abfolute power, un-
limitedby any
law, was neverobjected
to him;plainly,
becaufe, according to the fentiments of thofe times, that
power was, in fome degree, involved in the very idea of
regal authority.
The catholics were extremely elated with this revo-
lution ; and as they had afcribed all the late innovations
™ Stowe, p. 600.n
Burnet, vol. ii. book i. coll. 46. Hay-ward, p. 308. Stowe, p. 601. Hollingfhed, p, 10^9.
to
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 353/481
£ D W A R D VI. 339
to Somerfet's authority, they hoped, that his fall would chap.
prepare the way for the return of the ancient religion, i
** *
»
But Warwic, who now bore chief fway in the council,J 549-
was entirely indifferent with regard to all thefe points of
controverfy ; and finding, that the principles of the re-
formation had funk deeper into Edward's mind than to be
eafily eradicated, he was determined to comply with the
young prince's inclinations, and not to hazard his new ac-
quired power by any dangerous enterprize. He took care
very early to exprefs his intentions of fupporting the refor-
mation ; and he threw fuch difcouragements on Southamp-
ton, who flood at the head of the Romanifts, and whomhe confidered as a dangerous rival, that the high-fpirited
nobleman retired from the council, and foon after died
from vexation and difappointment. The other counfel-
lors, who had concurred in the revolution, received their
reward by promotions and new honours. RufTel was cre-
ated earl of Bedford : The marquis of Northamptonobtained the office of great chamberlain ; and lord Went-
worth, befides the office of chamberlain of the houfehold,
got two large manors, Stepney and Hackney, which were
torne from the fee of London °. A council of regencywas formed, not that which Henry's will had appointedfor the government of the kingdom, and which, beingfounded on an a£t of parliament, was the only legal one;but compofed chiefly of members, who had formerly been
appointed by Somerfet, and who derived their feat from
an authority, which was now declared ufurped and ille-
gal. But fuch niceties were, during that age, little un-
derftood, and ftill lefs regarded, in England.A session of parliament was held j and as it was the4-th No*,
ufual maxim of that afTembly to acquiefce in every admi-niftration which was eftablifhed, the council dreaded no
oppofition from that quarter, and had more reafon to look
oHeylin, p. 85. Rymer, torn. xv. p. 2z6,
Z 2 for
A parlia-
ment.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 354/481
340 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap. f or a corroboration of their authority. Somerfet had been
XXXV.prevailed on to confefs, on his knees, before the council,
549» all the articles of charge againft him; and he imputed
thefe mifdemeanors to his own rafhnefs, folly, and indis-
cretion, not to any malignity of intention p. He even
fubferibed this confeffion ; and the paper was given in to
parliament, who, after fending a committee to examine
him, and hear him acknowledge it to be genuine, paffed
a vote, by which they deprivedhim of all
his offices, andfined him two thoufand pounds a year in land. Lord St.
John was created treafurer in his place, and Warwic earl
marfhal. The profecution againft him was carried no
farther. His fine was remitted by the king : He recover-
ed his liberty : And Warwic, thinking that he was now
fufficiently humbled, and that his authority was much
lefTened by his late tame and abje£l behaviour, re-admit-• ted him into the council, and even agreed to an alliance
between their families, by the marriage of his own fon,
lord Dudley, with the lady Jane Seymour, daughter of
Somerfet ^.
During this feflion a fevere law was pafled againft
riots r. It was enacted, that if any, to the number of
twelve perfons, fhould meet together for any matter of
ftate, and being required by a lawful magiftrate, fhould
not difperfe, it fhould be treafon : and if any broke
hedges, or violently pulled up pales about inclofures,
without lawful authority, it fhould be felony : Any at-
tempt tokill a
privycounfellor
was fubjecled to the famepenalty. The bifhops had made an application, com-
plaining, that they were deprived of all their pov/er, bythe encroachments of the civil courts, and the prefent
fufpenfran of the canon law j that they could fummon no
offender before them, punifh no vice, or exert the dif-
PHeylin, p. 84. Hayward, p, 309. Stowe, p. 603.
q Hay ward, p. 309.t
3 and 4 Edw. VI. c. 5.
cipline
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 355/481
EDWARD VI. 341
cipline of the church : From which diminution of their hap.
authority, they pretended, immorality had every wherev
/
received great encouragement and encreafe. The deftgn '549*
of fome was, to revive the penitentiary rules of the pri-
mitive church : But others thought-
, that fuch an autho-
rity committed to the bifhops, would prove more op-
preffive than confeiTion, penance, and all the clerical
inventions of the Romifh fupcrftition. The parliament,
for the prefent, contented themfelves with empoweringthe king to appoint thirty-two commiffioners to compile a
body of canon laws, which were to be valid, though ne-
ver ratified by parliament. Such implicit trufl did they
repofe in the crown; without reflecting that all their li-
berties and propertiesmight
be afrected
bythefe ca-
nons s. The king did not live to affix the royal fanclion to
the new canons. Sir John Sharington, whofe crimes and
malverfations had appeared fo egregious at the condemn-
ation of lord Seymour, obtained from parliament a re-
verfal of his attainder c. This man fought favour withO
the more zealous reformers; and bifhop Latimer affirmed,
that, though formerly he had been a mod: notorious knave,
he was now fo penitent, that he had become a very honed
man.
When Warwic and the council of regency began to T 55° m
exercife their power, they found themfelves involved inpr^cea-id
the famedifficulties,
that had embarraiTed theprotector.
5coliund *
The wars with France and Scotland could not be fup-
ported by an exhaufted exchequer ; feemed dangerous to
a divided nation ; and were now acknowledged not to
have any object, which even the greateft and moft uninter-
rupted fuccefs could attain. The project: of peace, enter-
tained by Somerfet, had ferveJ th_m as a pretence for
clamour aeainft his adminiftration ; yet after fending Sir
s3 and 4 Edw. VI. c. %. * Ibid, c, 13,
Z 3 Thomas
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 356/481
342 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap. Thomas Cheney to the emoeror, and making again aXXXV o ov
^i fruidefs effort to
engagehim in the
protectionof
Bou-1550. logne, they found themfelves obliged to liften to the ad-
vances, which Henry made them, by the canal of Guidotti,
a Florentine merchant. The earl of Bedford, Sir JohnMafon, Paget, and Petre, were lent over to Boulogne,with full powers to negociate. The French king abfo-
lutely refjifed to pay the two millions of crowns, which
his predeceflbr had acknowledged to be due to the crownof England, as arrears of penfions ; and faid, that he ne-
ver would confent to render himfelf tributary to anyBoulogne prince: But he offered a fum for the immediate reditu-
erf#tion of Boulogne ; and four hundred thoufand crowns
>h M were at l a ft agreed on, one half to be paid immediately,the other in
Augufr. following,Six
hoftages were givenfor the performance of this article. Scotland was com-
prehended in the treaty : The Englifh ftipulated to reftore
Lauder and DunMas, and to demolifh the fortrefles of
Roxburgh and Eymouthu
. No fooner was peace con-
cluded with France, than a project was entertained of a
clofe alliance with that kingdom ; and Henry willingly
embraced a propofal fo fuitable both to his interefts and his
inclinations. An agreement, fome time after, was formed
for a marriage between Edward and Elizabeth, a daughterof France ; and all the articles were, after a little nego-
ciation, fully fettled w: But this project never took ef-
fecr..
The intention of marrying the king to a daughter of
Henry, a violent perfecutor of the proteftants, was no
wife acceptable to that party in England : But in all other
refpccliSj the council was (ready in promoting the reform-
ation, and in enforcing the laws againft the Romanics,Several prelates were (till addicted to that communion ;
n Burnet, vol. ii. p.148. Hayward,
310,311,31*. Rymer,
vol. xv.
p. 2if. V f^yward, p. 318, Heylin, p. 104. Rymer, tom. xv.
j).293.
and
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 357/481
E D W A R D VI. 343
and though they made fome compliances, in order to ^*aveC X Y X rP *
their bifhoprics, they retarded, as much as they fafely ^_ Nr —^
could, the execution of the new laws, and gave counte- 1 Si°'
nance to fuch incumbents as were negligent or refractory.
A refolution was therefore taken to feek pretences for de-
priving thofe prelates; and the execution of this intention
Was the more eafy, as they had all of them been obliged
to take commiffions, in which it was declared, that theyheld their fees during the king's pleafure only. It was
thought proper to begin with Gardiner, in order to ftrike
a terror into the reft. The method of proceeding againft
him was violent, and had fcarcely any colour of law or
juftice. Injunctions had been given him to inculcate,
in a fermon, the duty of obedience to a king, even during
his minority ; and becaufe he had neglected this topic, hehad been thrown into prifon, and had been there detained
during two years, without being accufed of any crime,
except difobedience to this arbitrary command. Theduke of Somerfet, fecretary Petre, and fome others of the
council, were now fent, in order to try his temper, and
endeavour to find fomegrounds
fordepriving
him : He
profefFed to them his intention of conforming to the go-
vernment, of fupporting the king's laws, and of officiat-
ing by the new liturgy. This was not the difpofition
which they expected or defired *. A new deputation was
therefore fent, who carried him feveral articles to fubferibe.
He was required to acknowledge his former mifbehaviour,
and to confefs the juftice of his confinement: He waslikewife to own, that the king was fupreme head of the
church ; that the power of making and difpenfing with
holidays was part of the prerogative; that the book of
common-prayer was a godly and commendable form j
that the king was a complete fovereign in his minority ;
that the law of the fix articles wasjuftly repealed ;
and
xHeylin, p. 99.
Z 4 that
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 358/481
3U HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A P. that the kins; had full authority to correct and reform
v Ly what was amifs in ecclefiaftical difcipline,government,
or
*55 ' doctrine. The bifhop was willing to fet his hand to all
the articles except the flrft : He maintained his conduct
to have been inoffenfive ; and declared that he would not
own himfelf guilty of faults, which he had never com-mitted y.
The council, finding that he had gone fuch lengths,
were determined to prevent his full compliance by mul-
tiplying the difficulties upon him, and fending him newarticles to fubfcribe. A lift was feiected of fuch pointsas they thought would be the hardeft of digeffion ; and
not content with this rigour, they alfo infifted on his fub-
mifiion, and his acknowledgment of paft errors. Tomake this fubfcription more mortifying, they demanded a
promife, that he would recommend and publifh all thefe
articles from the pulpit: But Gardiner, who faw, that
they intended either to ruin or difhonour him, or per-
haps both, determined not to gratify his enemies by anyfarther compliance : He ftill maintained his innocence ;
defired a fair trial -
3 and refufed to fubfcribe more articles,
till he fhould recover his liberty. For this pretended of-
fence his bifhopric was put under fequeftration for three
months ; and as he then appeared no more compliant
than before, a commiflion was appointed to try, or, more
properlv fpeaking, to condemn him. The commiilio-
ners were, the primate, the bifhops of London, Ely, and
Lincoln, fecretary Petre, Sir James Kales, and fome
oihcr lawyers. Gardiner objected to the legality of the
commiilion, which was not founded on any ftatute or
precedent-
y and he appealed from the commimoners to the
king. His appeal was not regarded : Sentence was pro-
nounced againft him : He was deprived of his bifhopric,
and committed to clofe cuftody : His books and papers
y CoHier, vol. ii. p. 3C5, from the council books, Heylin, p. 99.
were
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 359/481
EDWARD VI. 345
were feized ; he was fecluded from all company ;and it c
^Ha p.
XXa",was not allowed him either to fend or receive any letters v
v ,
or mefTagesz
.I55 '*
Gardiner, as well as the other prelates, had agreed
to hold his office during the king's pleafure : But the
council, unwilling to make ufe of a conceffion, which
had been fo illegallyand arbitrarily extorted, chofe, rather
toemploy
fome forms ofjuflice
;a refolution, which led
them to commit flill greater iniquities and feverities. But
the violence of the reformers did not flop here. Day,
bifhop of Chichefter, Heathe of Worcester, and Voifey
of Exeter, were deprived of their bifhopries, on pretence
of difobedience. Even Kitchen of LandafF, Capon of
Salifbury, and Samfon of Coventry, though they had
complied in every thing, yet not being fuppofed cordial
in their obedience, were obliged to feek protection, by
facrificing the moft confiderable revenues of their fee to
the rapacious courtiers a.
These plunderers neglected not even fmaller profits.
An order was ifTued by council, for purging the library
at Weftminfter of allmiflals, legends,
and otherfuper-
ftitious volumes, and delivering their garniture to Sir An-
thony Aucher b. Many of thefe books were plaited with
gold and filver, and curioufly emboiTed ; and this finery
was probably the fuperftition that condemned them.
Great havoc was likewife made on the libraries at Ox-
ford. Books and manufcripts were deftroyed without
diflincYion : The volumes of divinity fufFeied for their
rich binding : Thofe of literature were condemned as
ufelefs : Thofe of geometry and aflronomy were fuppofed
to contain nothing but necromancyc
. The univerfity
had not power to oppofe thefe barbarous violences : They
z Fox, vol. ii. p. 7^4< & f e q« Burnet, Heylia, Collier.
a Goodwin de prael'ul. Angl. Heylin, p. ;oo b Collier, vol. ii.
p. 307, from the council bocks. c Wood, hift. & antiq. Ox-on.
lib. 1. p. 271, 272.
5 were
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 360/481
346 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c
JlriP * were m danger of lofing their own revenues 5 and ex-
t
*
1 pecked every moment to be fwallowed up by the earl ofJ 5S 1 ' Warwic and his aflbciates.
Though every one befides yielded to the authority of
the council, the lady Mary could never be brought to
compliance ; and me (till continued to adhere to the mafs,
and to reject the new liturgy. Her behaviour was, dur-
ing fome time, connived at ; but, at laft, her two chap-
lains, Mallet and Berkeley, were thrown into prifonc
;
and remonftrances were made to the princefs herfelf on
account of her difobedience. The council wrote her a
letter, by which they endeavoured to make her change her
fentiments, and to perfuade her, that her religious faith
was very ill grounded. They afked her, what warrant
there was in Scripture for prayers in an unknown tongue,the ufe of images, or offering up the facrament for the
dead ; and they defired her to perufe St. Auftin, and the
other ancient doctors, who would convince her of the errors
of the Romifh fuperftition, and prove that it was founded
merely on falfe miracles and lying ftories f. The lady
Mary remained obftinate againft all this advice, and de-
clared herfelf willing to endure death rather than relin-
quifh her religion : She only feared, fhe faid, that fhe
was not worthy to fuffer martyrdom in fo holy a caufe :
And as for proteftant books, fhe thanked God, that, as
fhe never had, fo fhe hoped never to read any of them.
Dreading farther violence, fhe endeavoured to make an
efcape to her kinfman Charles ; but her defign was dif-
covered and prevented s. The emperor remonftrated in
her behalf, and even threatened hoftilitics, ifliberty of
conscience were refufed her : But though the council,
fenfible that the kingdom was in no condition to fupport,
with honour, fuch a war, was defirous to comply 3 they
«Stry^e, vol. ii. p. 249,
fFox, vol, ii. Collier, Burnet,
g H-iyward, p. 31
5.
found
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 361/481
E D W A R D VI. 347
found great difficulty to overcome the fcruples of the chap.
young king. He had been educated in fuch a violent ab- \
^ _j
horrence of the mafs and other popifh rites, which he *5lh
regarded as impiou-s and idolatrous, that he (hould parti-
cipate, he thought, in the fin, if he allowed its commif-
fion : And when at laft the importunity of Cranmer, Rid-
ley, and Poinet, prevailed fomewhat over his oppofition,
he burft into tears ; lamenting his fitter's obftinacy, and
bewailing his own hard fate, that he muft fuffer her to con-
tinue in fuch an abominable mode of worfhip.
The great object, at this time, of antipathy among the
proteftant feels, was popery, or, more properly fpeaking,the papids. Thefe they regarded as the common enemy,who threatened every moment to overwhelm the evange-
lical faith, and deftroyits
partizans by fire and fword :
They had not as yet had leifure to attend to the other
minute differences among themfelves, which afterwards
became the object of fuch furious quarrels and animofities,
and threw the whole kingdom into combuftion. Several
Lutheran divines, who had reputation in thofe days, Bu-
cer, Peter Martyr, and others, were induced to take fhel-
ter in England, from the perfecutions, which the emperorexercifed in Germany ; and they received protection and
encouragement. John A-lafco, a Polifh nobleman, be-
ing expelled his country by the rigours of the catholics,
fettled, during feme time, at Embden in Eaft-Friezland,
where he became preacher to a congregation of the re-
formed. Forefeeing the perfecutions which enfued, heremoved to England, and brought his congregation alongwith him. The council, who regarded them as induf-
trious, ufeful people, and defired to invite over others of
the fame character, not only gave them the church of
Auguftine friars for the exercife of their religion, but
granted them a charter, by which they were erected into
a, corporation^ confiding of a fuperintendant and four af-
fixing
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 362/481
348 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c
Jl;\ rP ' Mine: miniflers. This ecclefiaflical eftablimment was
i vr— ^ quite independent of the church ofEngland,
and differed
*55f»'
from it in fome rites and ceremonies' 5.
These differences among the protectants were matter
of triumph to the catholics ; who infilled, that the mo-
ment men departed from the authority of the church, theyloft all criterion of truth and fa! (hood in matters of reli-
gion, and muft be carried away by everv wind of doc-
trine. The continual variations of every feci of protef-
tants afforded them the fame topic of reafoning. Thebook of Common Prayer fuffered in England a new rcvi-
fal, and fome rites and ceremonies, which had given of-
fence, were omitted \ The fpeculative doctrines, or the
metaphyfics of the religion, were alfo reduced to forty-
two articles. Thefe were intended to obviate farther divi-
fions and variations ; and the compiling of them had been
pofrponed till the eitabliuhment of the liturgy, which was
juftly regarded as a more material object to the people.
The eternity of hell torments is afferted in this confeflion
of faith ; and care is alfo taken to inculcate, not onlythat no heathen, how virtuous foever, can efcape an end-
lefs ftate of the mofl cxquifite mifery, but alfo that every
one who prefumes to maintain, that any pagan can pof-
fibly be faved, is himfelf expofed to the penalty of eternal
perditionk
.
The theological zeal of the council, though feemingly
fervent, went not (o far as to make them neglect their
owntemporal concerns,
which feem to have ever been
uppermoft in their thoughts : They even found leifure to
attend to the public intereft ; nay, to the commerce of
the nation, which was, at that time, very little the ob-
ject,of general ftudy or attention. The trade of England
had anciently been carried on altogether by foreigners,
h Mem. Cranm.p. 234.
i Mem. Cranm,p. 289.k Article xviii.
chiefly
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 363/481
EDWARD VI. 349
chiefly the inhabitants of the Hanfe-towns, or Eafterlines, c H a P.. xxxv
as theywere called
;and in order to
encouragethefe
,_ 'jmerchants to fettle in England, they had been erected 1551.
into a corporation by Henry III. had obtained a patent,
were endowed with privileges, and were exempted from
feveral heavy duties paid by other aliens. So ignorantwere the Englifh of commerce, that this company, ufu-
ally denominated the merchants of the Stil-yard, en-
groiTed, even down to the reign of Edward, alrnoft the
whole foreign trade of the kingdom ; and as they naturally
employed the fhipping of their own country, the naviga-tion of England was alfo in a very languifhing condition.
It was therefore thought proper by the council to feelc
pretences for annulling the privileges of this corporation,
privileges which put them nearly on an equal footing
with Englifhmen in the duties which they paid ; and as
fuch patents were, during that age, granted by the abfo-
lute power of the king, men were the fcfs furprized to
find them revoked by the fame authority. Several remon-
ftrances were made againft this innovation, by Lubec,
Hamburgh,and other Hanfe-towns
;but the council
per-fevered in their refolution, and the good effects of it foon
became vifible to the nation. The Englifh merchants,
by their very fituation as natives, had advantages above
foreigners in the purchafe of clorh, wool, and other com-
modities ; though thefe advantages had not hitherto been
fufficient to rouze their induftry, or engage them to be-
come rivals to this opulent company : But when aliens'
duty was alfo impofed upon all foreigners indifcriminately,
the Englifh were tempted co enter into commerce; and a
fpirit of induftry began to appear in the kingdom '.
About the fame time a treaty was made v/ith Gufta-
vus Ericfon, king of Sweden, by which it was ftipulated,
that, if he fent bullion into England, he might export
1 Hayward, p, 3*6, Heylin, p. !oS. Strype's Mem, vol. ii. p. 59;.
Englifh
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 364/481
350 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP.
Englifli commodities without paying cuftom ; that heAAA V>*
v' mould carry bullion to no other prince ; that if he fent
J 5S 7 * ozimus, fteel, copper, Sec. he mould pay cuftom for Eng-lifli commodities as an Englimman ; and that, if he fent
other merchandize, he mould have free intercourfe, pay-
ing cuftom as a ftrangerm
. The bullion fent ever by
Sweden, though it could not be in great quantity, fet the
mint at work : Good fpecie was coined : And much of
the bafe metal, formerly iflued, was recalled : A circum-flance which tended extremely to the encouragement of
commerce.Warwiecre- But all thefe fchemes for promoting induftry wereated duke of ... . . . . . . _ . n .
Northum- likely to prove abortive, by the rear or domeltic con-berland.
vulfions, arifing from the ambition of Warwic. That
nobleman, not contented with the ftation which he had
attained, carried farther his pretenfions, and had gain-ed partizans, who were difpofed to fecond him in every
enterprize. The laft earl of Northumberland died
without iflue ; and as Sir Thomas Piercy, his bro-
ther, had been attainted on account of the fhare, which
he had in the Yorkshire infurredHon during the late reign,
the title was at prefent extinct, and the eftate was vefted
in the crown. Warwic now procured to himfeif a grant
of thofe ample poiTeflions, which lay chiefly in the North,
the moft warlike part of the kingdom ; and he was digni-
fied with the title of duke of Northumberland. His friend,
Paulet, lord St. John, the treafurer, was created, firft, earl
of Wiltfhire, thenmarquis
of Winchefter : Sir William
Herbert obtained the title of earl of Pembroke.
... ,. But the ambition of Northumberland made him re-His ambi-tion.
gard all encreafe of poiTeflions and titles, either to himfeif or
his partizans, as fteps only to farther acquifitions. Find-
in» that Somerfet, though degraded from his dignity, and
even leffened in the public opinion by his fpiritlefs con-
O!Heylin, p. 109.
duel,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 365/481
E D W A R D VI. 351
duct, ftill enjoyed a confiderable fhare of popularity, he c H ^ p .
determined to ruin the man, whom he regarded as the chiefv v ;
obftacle to the attainment of his hopes. The alliance, *SP«
which had been contracted between the families, had pro-
duced no cordial union, and only enabled Northumber-
land to compafs with more certainty the deftruction of his
rival. He fecretly gained many of the friends and fer-
vants of that unhappy nobleman : He fometimes terrified
him by the appearance of danger : Sometimes provoked
him by ill ufage. The unguarded Somerfet often broke
out into menacing expremons againft Northumberland :
At other times, he formed ram projects, which he imme-
diately abandoned : His treacherous confidents carried to
his enemy every paflionate word, which dropped from
him : They revealed the fchemes, which they themfelveshad firft fuggefted
n: And Northumberland, thinking that
the proper feafon was now come, began to act in an open
manner againft him.
In one night, the duke of Somerfet, lord Grey, David i6thOdob.
and John Seymour, Hammond and Neudigate, two of the
duke's fervants, Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Thomas Palmer,
were arrefted and committed to cuftody. Next day, the
dutchefs of Somerfet, with her favourites, Crane and his
wife, Sir Miles Partridge, Sir Michael Stanhope, Banni-
fter, and others, was thrown into prifon. Sir Thomas
Palmer, who had all along acted as a fpy upon Somerfet,
accufed him of having formed a defign to raife an infur-
rection in the north, to attack the gens d'armes on a
mufter-day, to fecure the Tower, and to raife a rebellion
in London : But, what was the only probable accufation,
heaflerted, that Somerfet had once laid a project for mur-
dering Northumberland, Northampton, and Pembroke at
a banquet, which was to be given them by lord Paget.
Craneand his wife
confirmed Palmer's testimony withn
Heylin, p,m,
regard
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 366/481
352 HISTORY- OF ENGLAND. I
CHAP,regard to this laft defign ; and it appears that fome rafh
i fcheme of that nature had really been mentioned ; though
J 55 1 ' no regular confpiracy had been formed, or means pre-
pared for its execution. Hammond confeilcd, that the
duke had armed men to guard him one night in his houfe
at Greenwich.Trial of So- Somerset was brought to his trial before the mar-
quis of Winchefler, created high fteward. Twenty-feven peers compofed the
jury, amongwhom were Nor-
thumberland, Pembroke, and Northampton, whom de-
cency fhould have hindered from acting as judges in the
trial of a man, that appeared to be their capital enemy.Somerfet was accufed of high treafon on account of the
projected infurrections, and of felony in laying a defign
to murder privy-counfellors.
We have a very imperfect account of all ftate trials
during that age, which is a fenfible defecl: in our hif-
tory : But it appears, that fome more regularity was ob-
ferved in the management of this profecution than had
iftDecemb. ufually been employed in like cafes. The witnefies
were at leaft examined by the privy-council ; and though
they were neither produced in court, nor confronted withthe prifoner (circumflances required by the Itridl prin-
ciples of equity) their depofitions were given in to the
jury. The proof feems to have been lame with regard
to the treafonable part of the charge ; and Somerfet's
defence was fo fatisfactory, that the peers gave verdict: in
his favour : The intention alone of aflaulting the privy-
counfellors was fupported by tolerable evidence ; and the
jury brought him in guilty of felony. The prifoner
himfelf confefTed, that he had expreffed his intention of
murdering Northumberland and the other lords ; but had
not formed any refolution on that head : And when he
received fentence, he afked pardon of thofe peers for the
defigns, which he had hearkened to againft them. Thepeople, by whom Somerfet was beloved, hearing the
firft
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 367/481
EDWARD VI. 353
Erf! part of his fentence, by which he was acquitted from c Hr
A p .
treafon, exprefied their joy by Joud acclamations : Buttheir fatisfaction was fuddenly damped, on rinding that
he was condemned to death for felony °.
Care had been taken by Northumberland's emifTaries, j,, Zt
to prepofTefs the young king againft his uncle 3 and left
he fhould relent, no accefs was given to anV of Somer-
fet's friends, and the prince was kept from reflection bya continued feries of occupations and amufements. AtHisexecm
Jaft the prifoner was brought to the fcarToId on Tower- ^li jia,
hill, amidft great crowds of fpe&ators, who bore him
fuch finccre kindnefs, that they entertained, to the lafl
moment, the fond hopes of his pardon ?. Many of them
rufhed in to dip their handkerchiefs in his blood, whichthey long preferved as a precious relique ; and fome of
them foon after, when Northumberland met with a like
doom, upbraided him with this cruelty, and difpjayed to
him thefe fymbolsof his crime. Somerfet indeed, though
many actions of his life were exceptionable, feems, in ge-
neral, to have merited a better fate ; and the faults, which
he committed, were owing to weaknefs, not to any bad
intention. His virtues were better calculated for private
than for public life ; and by his want of penetration and
iirmnefs, he was ill-fitted to extricate himfelf from thofe
cabals and violences, to which that age was {o much ad-
dieted. Sir Thomas Arundel, Sir Michael Stanhope, Sir
Miles Partridge, and Sir Ralph Vane, all of them So-merfet's friends, were brought to their trial, condemned
and executed : Great injuftice feems to have been ufed in
their profecution. Lord Paget, chancellor of the dutchy,
was, on fome pretence, tried in the (tar-chamber, and
condemned in a fine of 6000 pounds, with the lofs of
o Hay ward, p. 320, 321, 322. Stowe, p, 6o5. Holiin^fhcd, p. io5;,
P Hayward, p. 3Z4, 325,
Vol, IV. A a his
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 368/481
A parlia-
ment.
354. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1
chap. n j s office. To mortify him the more, he was degradedXXXV.
v_ / from the order of the garter ; as unworthy, on account
*S5 Z - of his mean birth, to fhare that honour ^. Lord Rich,
chancellor, was alfo compelled to refiga his office, on the
difcovery of fome marks of friendihip, which he had
fliown to Somerfet.
Z2A Jan. The day after the execution of Somerfet, a feffion of
parliament was held, in which farther advances were
made towardsthe
eftahiiihment of the reformation. Thenew liturgy was authorifed ; and penalties were enacted
againfl all thofe who abfented themfelves from public wor-
fhipr
. To ofe the mafs had already been prohibited un-
der fevere penalties ; fo that the reformers, it appears,
whatever fcope they had given to their own private judge-
ment, in difputing the tenets of the ancient religion,
were refolved not to allow the fame privilege to others ;
and the practice, nay the very doctrine of toleration, was,
at that time, equally unknown to all feels and parties.
To diiTent from the religion of the m3giiirate, was uni-
verfally conceived to be as criminal as to queftion his
title, or rebel again ft his authority.
A law was enacted againft ufury ; that i c , againft
taking any intereft for money s. This ac~T. was the remains
of ancient f perftition ; but being found extremely ini-
quitous in itfelf, as well as prejudicial to commerce, it
was afterwards repealed in the twelfth of Elizabeth. Thecommon rate of intereft, notwithftanding the law, was
at this time14 per
cent l.
A bill was introduced by the miniitry into the houfs
of lords, renewing thofe rigorous flatutes of treafon,
which had been abrogated in the beginning of this rci.^n ;
and though the peers, by their high flation, flood noft
expofed to thefe tempcfls of ftate, yet had they fo little
qStowe, p.
608. r
5& 6 £dw. VI. c. i. s ibid. c. 20.
* Hazard, p, 318,
regard
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 369/481
EDWARD VI. 355
regard to public fecurity, or even to their own true in- c
tereft, thatthey paffed
the bill withonly
one difTenting'
voice u. But the commons rejected it, and prepared a
new bill, tha: paffc d into a law, by which it was enact-
ed, that whoever fhould call the king or any of his heirs,
named in the ftatute of the 35th of the laft reign, heretic,
fchifmatic, tvrant, infidel, or ufurper of the crown, fhould
forfeit, for the firil offence, their goods and chattels, and be
imprifoned during pleafure ; for the fecond, fhould incur
a pramunire ;tor the third, fhould be attainted for trea-
fon. But if any fhould unadvifedly utter fuch a flan-
ker in writing, printing, painting, carving, or graving,
he was, for the fhft offence, to be held a traitor w. It
may be worthy of notice, that the king and his next
heir,the
lady Mary,were
prufefTedlyof different reli-
gions j and religions, which threw on each other the
imputation of herefy, fchifm, idolatry, profanenefs, blaf-
phemy, wickednefs, and all the opprobrious epithets that
religious zeal has invented. It was almoft impoflible,
therefore, for the people, if they fpoke at all on thefe
fubjects, not ^o f II into the crime, (o feverely punifhed
by the ftatute ;and the jealoufy of the commons for
liberty, though it led them to reject the bill of treafons,
lent to them by the lords, appears not to have been very
active, vigilant, or clear-lighted.
The commons annexed to this bill a claufe which
was of more importance than the bill itfelf, that: no one
ihould be convicted of any kind of treafon, unlefs thecrime were proved by the oaths of two witnefles, con-
fronted with the prifoner. The lords, for fome time,
fcrupled to pafs this claufe ; though conformable to the
mod obvious principles of equity. But the members of
that houfe trufted for protection to their prefent perfonal
« Parliamentary Hift. vol. iil, p. 25S. Burnet, vol. ii. p. 190. W5&6Edw. VI. cap. 2,
A a 2 in tereft
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 370/481
35# HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c HAP. interefl and power, and neo-lec~ted the nobleft and mofl
XXXY .
>
'
.
permanent fecurity,that of laws.
*5>*' The houfe of peers pafTed a bill, whofe object was
making a provifion for the poor ; but the commons, not
chufing that a money-bill mould begin in the upper-
houfe, framed a new act to the fame purpofe. By this
act, the church-wardens were empowered to collect cha-
ritable contributions ; and if any refufed to give, or dif-
fuaded others from that charity, the bifhop of the dio-
cefe was impowered to proceed againft them. Such large
difcretionary powers, entrufted to the prelates, feem as
proper an object of jealoufy as the authority aflumed bythe neers x
.i
There was another occafion, in which the parliament
repofed an unufual confidence in the bifhops. They im-powered them to proceed againft fuch as neglected the
Sundays and holidays y. But thefe were unguarded con-
ceffions granted to the church: The general humour of
the age rather led men to bereave the ecclefiaftics of all
power, and even to pillage them of their property : Manyclergymen, about this time, were obliged for a fubfifl-
ence to turn carpenters or taylors, and fome kept ale*
houfes 7-. The bifhops themfelves were generally reduced
to poverty, and held both their revenues and fpiritual
ofiice by a very precarious and uncertain tenure.
Tonstal, bifhop of Durham, was one of the mofl
eminent prelates of that age, ftill lefs for the dignity of
his fee, than for his own perfonal merit; his learning,
moderation, humanity, and beneficence. He had op-
pofed, by his vote and authority, all innovations in re-
ligion ; but as foon as they were enacted, he had always
fubmitted, and had conformed to every theological fyfiem,
which had been eftablifhed. His known probity had
madethis
compliancebe
afcribed,not to an interefted or
x5 & 6 Edw. VI, cap, a. y Ibid, cap, 3,
z Burnet,
vol, ii. p. 20»,
time-
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 371/481
EDWARD VI, 357
time-ferving fpirit, but to a fenfe of duty, which led c£
l
£p .
him to think, that all private opinion ought to be facri- \ Nr - ~ ^
jficed to the gr?at concern of public peace and tranquil-J 55 z »
lity. The general regard, paid to his character, had
protected him from any fevere treatment during the ad-
miniftration of Somerfet ; but when Northumberland
gained the afcendant, he was thrown into prifon ; and
as that rapacious nobleman had formed a defign of feizing
the revenues of the fee of Durham, and of acquiring
to himfelf a principality in the northern counties, he
was refolved, in order to effect his purpofe, to deprive
Tonftal of his bifhopric. A bill of attainder, therefore,
on pretence of mifprifion of treafon, was introduced into
the houfe of peers againft the prelate ; and it pafTed with
the oppofition only of lord Stourton, a zealous catholic,
and of Cranmer, who always bore a cordial and fmcere
friendmip to the bifhop of Durham. But when the
bill was fent down to the commons, they required, that
witnefTes fhould be examined, that Tonftal fhould be
allowed to defend himfelf, and that he mould be con-
fronted with his accufers : And when thefedemands were
refufed, they rejected the bill.
This equity, fo unufual in the parliament during that
age, was afcribed by Northumberland and his partizans,
not to any regard for liberty and juftice, but to the preva-lence of Somerfet's faction, in a houfe of commons, which,,
being chofen during the adminiftration of that noble-
man, had been almoft entirely filled with his creatures.
They were confirmed in this opinion, when they found,that a bill, ratifying the attainder of Somerfet and his
accomplices, was aifo rejected by the commons, thoughit had palled the upper houfe. A refolution was there-
fore taken to diffolve the parliament, which had fit ten 15 th April*
during this whole reign-
3 and foon after to fummon ar.evy one,
A a 3 Northu^
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 372/481
258 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c H \ P. Northumberland, in order to enfure to himfelf
XXXV.t a houfe of commons entirely obf-quious to his will, yen-
' S5 2 - tured on an expedient, which could net have been prac-A new par
liament. tiled, or even imagined, in an age, when there was anyidea or eompreheniion of liberty He ehg kingto write circular letters to all the (hei ffs, in •. h eh he
enjoin; d them to inform the freeholders, that they
were required to choofe men of knowledge and expe-
rience for their representatives. After this i ral ex-
hortation, t !i e king continue.! in uicic word :
tc/ nd
<cyet, neverthelefs, our pjeafure is, that ere our
"-privy- council, or any of them in..:!, n our ! alf,
<crecommend, within their juriididtion, n en of learning
tc and wifdom ;in fuch caies, rheii liiitcti ns fhall be
<c regarded and followed, as tending to the fame end" which we defire, that is
5to have this .. y com-
<cpofed of the perfons in our realm the belt fitted to
"give ad -/ice and go.<d counsel." Sever.:: letters were
fent from the km::, recommending members to particular
counties, Sir Richaru^ Cotton to Hampihire; Sii Wil-
liam Fitzwilli-ms andSir
Henry Neviltc .
:fhre;Sir William Drury and Sir Henr) Benningfield to Suf-
folk, 6-:c. But though fonie counties ovAy received tnis
fpecies of conge d' elire from the king ; the recommenda-
tions from the privy- council and the co llors, we
may fairly prefume, would extend to the greatei part, if
not the whole, of the kingdom.It is remaikable, that this attempfwas r: ade during
the reign of a minor king., when the royal authority is
ufually weaken :
;that it was patiently fubmit'ted to
; and
that it gave io little un.brage as Icarcely to be taken
notice of by any hiftorian. The painful and laborious
collector above-cited, who never omits the molt, trivial
a Stry^'s Etclefiaftical Memorial , vol* ii. p. 394,
matterI
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 373/481
EDWARD VI. 359
matter, is the only perfon, that has thought this memo- cJf ^
p .
rable letter worthy of being tranfmitted to pofterity,i
v1
The parliament anfwered Northumberland's expecta- ft jj|f r
3c |,
tions. As Tonfral had in the interval been deprived of
his bifhopric in an arbitrary manner, by the fentence of
lay commiilioncrs, appointed to try bim, the fee of Dur-
ham was by act of parliament divided into two bifhoprics,
whichhad certain
portionsof the revenue
affignedthem.
The regalities of the fee, which included the juriidiciion
of a count palatine, were given by the king to Northum-
berland ;nor is it to be doubted but that nobleman
had alio pu roofed to make rich plunder of the revenue,
as was then ufual with the courtiers, whenever a bi-
fhopric became vacant.
The commons gave the miniftfy another mark of at-
tachment, which was at that time the mod fincere of
any, the moil cordial, and the moft difficult to be ob-
tained : They granted a fupply of two fubfidies and two
fifteenths. To render this prefent the more acceptable,
they voted a preamble, containing a long accufation of
Somerfet,"
for involving the king in wars, wafting his"
treafure, engaging him in much debt, embafing" the coin, and giving occafion for a molt terrible re-
" bellion b ."
The debts of the crown were at this time confiderable.
The king had received from France 400,000 crowns on
delivering Boulogne ; he had reaped profit from the fale
of fbme chantry lands ; the churches had been fpoiled
of all their plate and rich ornaments, which, by a de-
cree of council, without any pretence of law or equity,
had been converted to the kind's ufe c: Yet fuch had
been the rapacity of the courtiers, that the crown owed
about 300,000 poundsd
; and great dilapidations were,
b 7 Edvv. VI. cap. 12. c Keylin, p, 95. 132. d Strype's
Ecddi-ftical Memorials, vol. ii. p. 344.
A a 4 at
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 374/481
360 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c H a P. a t the fame time, made of the royal demefnes. The
iv .yonncr prince lhowed among other virtues, a difpofition
J 553- to frugality, which, had he lived, would foon have re-
trieved thefe lofTes : But as his health was declining very
faff, the prefent emptinefs of the exchequer was a fen-
fible obftacle to the execution of thofe projects, which
the ambition of Northumberland had founded on the pro-
fpecl: of Edward's approaching end.
Sueeefiion Tkat nobleman reprefented to the prince, whomc ans
youth and an infirm ftate of health made fufceptible of
any imprefiion, that his two filters, Mary and Eliza-
beth, had both of them been declared illegitimate by a£fc
of parliament : And though Henry by his will had re-
ftored them to a place in the fucceffion, the nation would
never fubmit to fee the throne ofEngland
filledby a
baftard : That they were the king's fiflers by the half-blood
only ; and even if they were legitimate, could not enjoythe crown as his heirs and fucceflbrs : That the queenof Scots flood excluded by the late king's will ; and be-
ing an alien, had loft by law all right of inheriting ; not
to mention, that, as fhe was betrothed to the dauphin,
fhe would, by her fucceffion, render England, as fhe
had already done Scotland, a province to France : Thatthe certain confequence of his filler Mary's fuccelfion,
or that of the queen of Scots, was the abolition of the
proteftant religion, and the repeal of the laws enacted in
favour of the reformation, and the re-eflablifhment of the
tifurpation and idolatry of the church of Rome : Thatfortunately for England, the fame order of fucccfiion,
which juftice required, was alfo the moft conformable to
public imereft ; and there was not on any fide any juft
ground for doubt or deliberation : That when thefe
three princeffes were excluded by fuch folid reafons, the
fucccirion devolved on the marchionefs of Dorfet, elder
daughter of the French queen and the duke of Suffolk :
That
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 375/481
EDWARD VI. 361
That the next heir of the marchionefs was the lady Jane
Gray, a lady of the moft amiable character, accom-
plifhed by the beft education, both in literature and re-
ligion ; and every way worthy of a crown : And that
even, if her title by blood were doubtful, which there
was no juft reafon to pretend, the king was podl-fTed of
the fame power, that his father enjoyed ; and might leave
her the crownby
letterspatent.
Thefereafonings
made
impreffion on the young prince ; and above all, his zeal-
ous attachment to the proteftant religion made him appre-
hend the confequences, if fo bigotted a catholic as his
fifter Mary fhould fucceed to the throne. And thoughhe bore a tender affection to the lady Elizabeth, who was
liable to no fuch objection, means were found to perfuade
him, that he could not exclude the one fifter, en account
of illegitimacy, without giving alfo an exclufion to the
other.
Northumberland, finding that his arguments were
likely to operate on the king, began to prepare the other
parts of his fcheme. Two fons of the duke of Suffolk
hy a fecond venter having died,this
feafon, of the fweat-
ing ficknefs, that title was extinct:; and Northumberland
engaged the king to beftow it on the marquis of Dorfet.
Ey means of this favour and of others, which he conferred
upon him, he perfuaded the new duke of Suffolk and the
dutchefs, to give their daughter, the lady Jane, in mar-
riage to his fourth fon, the lord Guilford Dudley. In
order to fortify himfelf by farther alliances, he negociated
a marriage between the lady Catherine Gray, fecond
daughter of Suffolk, and lord Herbert, eldeft. fon of the
earl of Pembroke. He alfo married his own daughter toolord Haftings, eldeft fon of the earl of Huntingdon e
a
Thefe marriages were folemnized with great pomp and
feftivity; and the people, who hated Northumberland,e
Heylin^ p. 103, Stowe, p. 6090
X could
C H A l-
xxxv.
155
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 376/481
I .-
362 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
Jlv,rP * coul(1 not forbear exprefTmg their indignation at feeing
•—^—'fiich public demonstrations of
joy, duringthe
languishingJ 553« ftate of the young prince's health.
Edward had been f.ized in the foregoing year, firft
with the mealies, then with the fmall-pox-
3 but having
perfectly recovered from both thefe diftempers, the nation
entertained hopes, that they would only ferve to confirm
his health ; and he had af.erwards made a proerefs thruup-h
fome parts of the kingdom. It was fufpected, that heThe king's ^j tnere overheated himfelf in exercife : He was feizedzicknefs.
with a cough, which proved obftinate, and gave wayneither to regimen nor medicines : Several fatal fymptomsof a confumption appeared j and though it was hoped,
that, as the feafon advanced, his youth and temperance
might get the better of the malady, men faw with greatconcern his bloom and vigour infenfibly decay. The
general attachment to the young prince, joined to the
hatred borne the Dudleys, made it be remarked, that Ed-
ward had every moment declined in health, from the
time that lord Robert Dudley had been put about him,
in quality of gentleman of the bedchamber.
The languifhing ftate of Edward's health made North-
umberland the more intent on the execution of his pro-
ject. He removed all, except his own emiiTaries, from
about the kins : He himfelf attended him with the irreateft
affiduity : He pretended the mod' anxious concern for his
health and welfare : And by all thefe artifices he prevailed
on the young prince to give his final confent to the fettle-
ment projected. Sir Edward Montague, chief' juftice of
the Common Pleas, Sir John Baker and Sir Thomas
Bromley, two judges, with the attorney and folicitor-
general, were fummoned to the council ; where, after the
minutes of the intended deed were read to them, the
kingrequired them to draw them up in the form of letters
patent. They hefitated to obey ; and defired time to con-
fer
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 377/481
E D W A R D VI. 363
fider of it. The more they reflected, the greater r] angerC
^X^ VP '
they found in compliance. The fettlement of tbecrown 1—-v— «, 1
by Henry Vlii. had been made in confequence of an act i SSl-
of parliament ; and by another acr, pafled in the begin-
ning of this reign, it was declared treafon in any of the
heirs, their aiders or abettors, to attempt on the right of
another, or change the order of fucceilion. Tne judges
pleadedthefe reafons before the council.
They urged,that fuch a patent as was intended would be intirely in-
valid ; that it would fubjecl:, not only the judges who
drew it, but every counfellor who figned it, to the pains
of treafon : and that the only proper expedient, both for
giving fanction to the new fettlement, and freeing its
partizans from danger, was to fumrnon a parliament, and
to obtain the confent of that aflembly. The king faid,
that he intended afterwards to follow that method, and
Would call a parliament, in which he purpofed to have
his fettlement ratified ; bur in the mean time, he required
the judges, on their allegiance, to draw the patent in the
form required. The council tcIJ the judges, that their
refufal wouldfubjeel
allof them
tothe pains of
treafon.
Northumberland gave to Montague the appellation of
traitor ; and faid that he would in his fhirt fight any manin fo juft a caufe as that of lady Jane's fucceilion. The
judges were reduced to great difficulties between the dan-
gers from the law, and thofe which arofe from the violence
of jbrefent power and authorityf
.
The arguments were canvaiTed in feveral different
meetings between the counc;l and the judges; and nofolution could be found of the difficulties. At J aft, Mon-
tague propofeu an expedient, which fatisfied both his
brethren and the counfellors. He defired, that a fpecial
commiilion fhould be paiTed by the king and council, re-
quiring the judgesto
drawa
patent for the new fettlement*
Feller, boojc viii. p. 2,
•f
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 378/481
364 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
xxxvP ' °^ l ^ c crown > anc * tnat a P ar don Should immediately after
»
vbe granted them for any offence, which they might have
*553« incurred by their compliance. When the patent wasdrawn and brought to the bifhop of Ely, chancellor, in
order to have the great feal affixed to it, this prelate re-
quired, that all the judges fhould previously fign it.
Gofnald at firft refufed j and it was with muchdifficulty,
that he was prevailed on, by the violent menaces of
Northumberland, to comply ; but the conftancy of Sir
James Hales, who, though a zealous protectant, prefer-
red jufiice on this occafion to the prejudices of his party,could not be fhaken by any expedient. The chancellor
next required, for his greater fecurity, that all the privycounfellors fhould fet their hands to the patent : The in-
trigues of Northumberland cr the fears of his violence
were fo prevalent, that the counfellors complied with this
aiftjune. demand. Cranmer alone hefitated during fome time, but
at laft yielded to the earneft and pathetic entreaties of the
king s. Cecil, at that time fecretary of ftate, pretended
afterwards, that he only figned as witnefs to the king's
fubfcription. And thus, by the king's letters patent 3
the two princefTes, Mary and Elizabeth, wr ere fet afide;
and the crown was fettled on the heirs of the dutchefs of
Suffolk : For the dutchefs herfelf was content to give
place to her daughters.
After this fettlement was made, with fo many inau-
fpicious circumftances, Edward vifibly declined every
day ;and fmall
hopeswere entertained of his
recovery.To make matters worfe, his phyficians were difmiffed by
Northumberland's advice and by an order of council j and
he was put into the hands of an ignorant woman, who
undertook, in a little time, to reflore him to his former
ftate of health. After the ufe of her medicines, all the
bad fymptoms encreafed to the moft violent degree ; He
l Cranm, Mem, p, 29;. m
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 379/481
E D W A R D VI. 36m
felt a difficulty of fpeech and breathing ; his pulfe failed, chap.XXXV
his legs fwelled, his colour became livid; and many other » _j
fymptoms appeared of his approaching end. He expired A J5d
53 *
h
at Greenwich in the fixteenth year of his age, and the 6th July.
feventh of his reign.
All the Englifh hiftorians dwell with pleafure dn the
excellent qualities of this young prince ; whom the flat-
tering promifes of hope, joined to many real virtues, hadmade an object of tender affection to the public. He pof-
fefTed mildnefs of difpofition, application to fludy and bu-
finefs, a capacity to learn and judge, and an attachment
to equity and juflice. He feems only to have contracted,
from his education and from the genius of the age in
which he lived, too much of a narrow prepofferTion in
matters of religion, which made him incline fomewhat to
bigotry and perfecution : But as the bigotry of prote-
ftants, lefs governed by priefta, lies under more reftraints
than that of catholics, the effects of this malignant qua-
lity were the lefs to be apprehended, if a longer life had
been granted to young Edward.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 380/481
366 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. XXXVI.
M A R Y.
Lady Jane Gray proclaimed queen Deferted hy the
peoplec
Ibe queen proclaimed and acknowledged
Northumberland executed Catholic reli-
gion reftored A parliament- Deliberations
with regard to the queens marriage Shieetfs
marriage with Philip Wyafs infurretlion
SuppreJJed Execution of Lady Jane Gray-
A parliament Philip's arrival in England.
CHAP. *~fpHE title of the princefs Mary, after the demife ofXXXVI. %
t \j JL her brother, was not expofed to any connderable
1553. difficulty ; and the objections, ftarted by the lady Jane's
partizans, were new and unheard-of by the nation.
Though all the proteftant^, and even many of the catho-
lics, believed the marriage of Henry VIII, with Catherine
of Arragon to be unlawful and invalid ; yet, as it had been
contracted by the parties without any criminal intention a
had been avov/ed by their parents, recognized by the na-
tion, and feemingly founded on thofe principles of law
and religion, which then prevailed, few imagined, that
their ifTue ought on that account to be regarded as illegi-
timate. A declaration to that purpofe had indeed been
extorted from parliament by the ufual violence and ca-
price of Henry ; but as that monarch had afterwards been
induced to reitore his daughter to the right of fucceffion,
her title was now become as legal and parliamentary as it
was
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 381/481
MARY. 367
was ever eftecmed juft and natural. The public had c_,!*At
P '
J A./L.X. V 1 .
long been familiarized to thefe fentiments : During all the v v/
reign oi Edward, the princefs was regarded as his lawful J 55i*
fucceflbr : And though the proteftants dreaded the effects
of her prejudices, the extreme hatred, univerfally enter-
tained againft the Dudleys *, who, men forefaw, would,
under the name of Jane, be the real fovereigns, was more
than fufficient tocounterbalance,
even with thatparty,
the attachment to religion. This laft attempt, to violate
the oider of fucceffion, had difplayed Northumberland's
ambition and injullice in a full light ; and when the peo-
ple reflected on the long train of fraud, iniquity, and
cruelty by which that project had been conducted; that
the live of the two Seymour?, as well as the title of the
princefles, had been facrificed to it; they were moved by
indignation to exert themfelves in oppofition to fuch cri-
minal enterprizes. The general veneration alfo, paid to
the memory of Henry VIII. prompted the nation to de-
fend the rights of his poftcrity ; and the miferies of the
ancient civil wars were not fo entirely forgotten, that men
were willing, by a departure from the lawful heir, to in-cur the danger of like blood ihed and confufion.
NoRTHU^BEr.LAND, fenfible of the oppofition which
he mull: expect, had carefully concealed the deftination
made by the king ; and in order to bring the two prin-
cefles into his power, he had had the precaution to engagethe council, before Edward's death, to write to them in
that prince's name, dcfiring their attendance, on pretence
•that his infirm flate of health required the afTiftance of
their counfel and the confolaticn of their companyh
.
Edward expired before their arrival ; but Northumber-
land, in order to make the princefles fall into the fnare,
kept the king's death ft: ill fecret ; and the lady Mary.had already reached Koddefden, within half a day's jour-
s' SleUen, lib. 25.h
Heylin, p, 154.
sejr
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 382/481
o 63 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c h A P-ney of the court. Happily, the earl of Arundel fent hervvyyi J J
v
A', private intelligence, both of her brother's death and of
1553- the confpiracy formed againft her j : She immediatelymade hafte to retire ; and fhe arrived, by quick journies,firft at Kenning-hall in Norfolk, then at Framlingham in
Suffolk ; where fhe purpofed to embark and efcape to
Flanders, in cafe fhe fhculd find it impoffibie to defend
her right of fucceflion. She wrote letters to the nobility
and mod confiderable gentry in every county in England ;
commanding them to affift her in the defence of her
crown and perfon. And fhe difpatched a meffage to the
council ; by which fhe notified to them, that her brother's
death was no longer a fecret to her, promifed them par-
don for pad offences, and required them immediately to
giveorders for
proclaimingher in London k
.
Northumberland found that farther diffimulation
was fruitlefs : He went to Sion-houfe l
, accompanied bythe duke of Suffolk, the earl of Pembroke, and others of
the nobility ; and he approached the lady Jane, who re-
fided there, with all the refpecl ufually paid to the fove-
reign. Jane was, in a great meafure, ignorant of thefe
tranfactions ; and it was with equal grief and furprize,
Lady jane that fhe received intelligence of them m. She was a lady
Gray pro- £ amiable perfon, an eno-asing difpofition, accom-claimed L ' a ^ o r t
queen. plifhed parts ; and being of an equal age with the late
king, flie had received all her education with him, and
feemed even to poffefs greater facility in acquiring every
part of manly and polite literature. She had attained afamiliar knowledge of the Roman and Greek languages,befides modern tongues j had palled mod: of her time in
an application to learning ; and expreffed a great indiffe-
rence for other occupations and amufements, ufual with
i Burnet, vol. ii. p. 233.k Fox, vol. iii p. 14.
1
Thuanus; lib. xiii. c. 10. m Godwin in Kennet, p. 329*
Heylin, p. 149. Burnet, vol, ii, p, 234,
her
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 383/481
MARY. 369
her fex and ftation. R.o°;er Afcham, tutor to the lady c H A p.x A '
\ v 1
Elizabeth, having one day paid her a vifit, found her em- , _
'
*_,
ployed in reading Plato, while the reft of the family were J 553-
engaged in a party of hunting in the park; and on his
admiring the Angularity of her choice, fhe told him, that
fhe received more pleafure from 'that author than the
others could reap from all their fport and gaietyn
. Her
heart, full of this pafiion for literature and the elegant
arts, and of tendernefs towards her hufband, who was
deferving of her affections, had never opened itfelf to the
flattering allurements of ambition; and the intelligence
of her elevation to the throne was no-wife agreeable
to her. She even refufed to accept of the prefent; pleaded
the preferable title of the two princeffes ; exprefled her
dread of the confequences attending an enterprize fo dan-
gerous, not to fay fo criminal ; and defired to remain in
the private ftation, in which fhe was born. Overcome
at laft by the entreaties, rather than the reafons, of her fa-
ther and father-in-law, and above all of her hufband, fhe
fubmitted to their will, and was prevailed on to relin-
quifhher own
judgment.It was then ufual for the
kingsof England, after their accefllon, to pafs the firft days in
the Tower ; and Northumberland immediately conveyedthither the new fovereign. All the counfellors were ob-
liged to attend her to that fortrefs ; and by this means
became, in reality, prifoners in the hands of Northum-
berland ; whofe will they were neceflitated to obey Or-
ders were given by the council to proclaim Jane through-
out the kingdom ; but thefe orders were executed only
in London, and the neighbourhood. No applaufe en-
fued : The people heard the proclamation with filence
and concern : Some even exprefTed their fcorn and con-
tempt : and one Pot, a vintner's apprentice, was feverely
punifhed for this offence. The proteftant teachers
n Afcham's works, p. 222, 223,
Vol. IV. B b them-
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 384/481
37 o HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap, themfelves, who were employed to convince the oeople ofXXXV!.
*'
j Jane's title, found their eloquence fruitlefs ; and Ridley?x 553« bifhop of London, who preached a fermon to that pur-
pofe, wrought no effecT: upon his audience.
The people of Suffolk, meanwhile, paid their attend-
ance on Mary. As they were much attached to the re-
formed communion, they could not forbear, amidfl their
tenders of duty, expreffing apprehenfions for their reli-
gion -, but when fhe affured them, that (lie never meantto change the laws of Edward, they enlifted themfelves
in her caufe with zeal and affection. The nobility and
gentry daily flocked to her, and brought her reinforce-
ment. The earls of Bath and SufTex, the eldelt. fons of
]ord Wharton and lord Mordaunt, Sir William Drury,
Sir Henry Benningfield, Sir Henry Jernegan, perfons
whofe intereft lay in the neighbourhood, appeared at the
head of their tenants and retainers °. Sir Edward Haft-
ings, brother to the earl of Huntingdon, having received
a commiffion from the council to make levies for the lady
Jane in Buckinghamfhire, carried over his troops, which
amounted to four thoufand men, and joined Ma-y. Even
a fleet, which had been fent by Northumberland to lie off
the coaft of Suffolk, being forced into Yarmouth by a
ftorm, was engaged to declare for that princefs.
Northumberland, hitherto blinded by ambition, faw
at laft the danger gather round him, and knew not to
what hand to turn himfelf. He had levied forces, which
Were affembled at London ; but dreading the cabals of the
courtiers and counfellors, whofe compliance, he knew,had been entirely the refult of fear or artifice, he was re-
folved to keep near the perfon of the lady Jane, and fend
Suffolk to command the army. But the counfellors, whowifhed to remove him p, working on the filial tendernefa
• Heylin, p. 160. Burnet, vol. ii. p. 137. P Goodwinj. 330. Keylm, p. 759. Bur/.et, vol, ii. p. 339.. Fox, voJ. i»i. p. 15.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 385/481
MARY. 371
of Jane, magnified to her the danger, to which her father c H A p .
would be expofed ; and reprefented, that Northumber-
land, who had gained reputation by formerly fuppieffing, 5S3*
a rebellion in thofe parts, was more proper to commandin that enterprize. Tne duke himfelf, who knew the
llender capacity of Suffolk, began to think, that none but
himfelf was able to encounter the pre fen t danger ; and
heagreed
to take on hi in the command of the troops.
The counfellors attended on him at his departure with
the highefr. proteftations of attachment, and none more
than Arundel, his mortal enemy 9, As he went along, he
remarked the difaffection of the people, which fore boded a
fatal iffue to his ambitious hopes.M
Many," faid he to
lord Gray," come out to look at us, but I find not one
" who cries, God fpeed you1 '."
The duke had no fooner reached St. Edmond's-bury,than he found his army which did not exceed fix thou-
fand men, too weak to encounter the Queen'ss
, which
amounted to double the number. He wrote to the coun-
cil, defiring them to fend him a reinforcement ; and the
counfellorsimmediately
laid hold of theopportunity
to
free themfelves from confinement. They left the Tower,as if they meant to execute Northumberland's commands ; deferted hy
but being alTembled in Baynard's caftle, a houfe belong-:he F eo P le *
ingto Pembroke, they deliberated concerning the method
offhakingoff his ufurped tyranny. Arundel began the
conference, by reprefenting the injuftice and cruelty of
Northumberland, the exorbitancy of his ambition, the
criminal enterprize which he had projected, and the <*uilt
in which he had involved the whole council->
and he af-
firmed, that the only method of making atonement for
their pad: offences, was by a fpeedy return to the duty,which they owed to their lawful fovereign
c. This mo-
<1 H*ylin, p. 161. Baker, p. 315. Hollingfhed, p. 1086,t Speed, p. 816. *
Goodwin, p. 331.* Godwin, p. 331, 332, Thuanus, lib. xjii,
# b % tion
xxxvi.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 386/481
%n HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP.
XXXVI.tion was feconded by Pembroke, who, clapping his hand
to his fword, fwore he was ready to fight any man that
J553' exprefled himfelf of a contrary fentiment. The mayorand aldermen of London were immediately fent for, whodifcovcrcd great alacrity in obeying the orders they re-
ceived to proclaim Mary. The people exprefTed their
approbation by fnouts of applaufe. Even Suffolk, w7 ho
commanded in the Tower, finding refifrance fruitlefs,
opened the gates, and declared for the queen. The lady
Jane, after the vain pageantry of wearing a crown during
ten days, returned to a private life with more fatisfaclion
than (lie felt when the royalty was tendered to. her u:
And the mefTengers, who were fent to Northumberland,with orders to lay down his arms, found that he had de-
fpaired of fuccefs, was deferted by all his followers, and
had already proclaimed the queen, with exterior marks of
ioy and fatisfaclion w. The people every where, on the
T'ne queenJ J J
proclaimed queen's approach to London, gave fenfible expreffions of
juiowiedg-t ' ie ^ r l°y a ^y an ^ attachment. And the lady Elizabeth
?d« met her at the head of a thoufand horfe, which that prin-
cefs had levied in order to fupport their joint title againft
the ufurper x .
The queen gave orders for taking into cuflody the
duke of Northumberland, who fell on his knees to the
earl of Arundel that arretted hinv and abjectly beggedhis life y. At the fame time were committed the earl of
Warwic his elded {"on, lord Ambrofe and lord Henry
Dudley,two of his
younger fons,Sir Andrew
Dudley,his brother, the marquis of Northampton, the earl of
Huntingdon, Sir Thomas Palmer, and Sir John Gates.
The queen afterwards confined the duke of Suffolk, lady
u Godwin, p. 352. Thuanus, lib. xiii. c. 2. w Stowr, p. 612.
x Burner, vol. ii. p. 240. Heylin, p. 19. Stowe, p. 613.
v Burnet, vol, ii. p. 239. Stowe ; p.6i2. Baker, p. 315. Holling/hed,
f, foSSt
Jane
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 387/481
MARY. 373
Jane Grey, and lord Guilford Dudley. But Mary was c H a p.
defirous, in the beginning of her reign, to acquire popu-^ ^ j
larity by the appearance of clemency; and becaufe the *SS3-
counfellors pleaded conflraint as an excufe for their trea-
fon, (he extended her pardon to moft of them. Suffolk
himfelf recovered his liberty ; and he owed this indul-
gence, in a great meafure, to the contempt entertained of
his capacity. But the guilt of Northumberlandwas too
great, as well as his ambition and courage too dangerous,
to permit him to entertain any reafonable hopes of life.
When brought to his trial, he only defired permifTion to
afk two queftions of the peers, appointed to fit on his
jury; whether a man could be guilty of treafon that
obeyed orders given him by the council under the great
feal ? and whether thofe who were involved in the fame
guilt with himfelf, could fit as his judges ? Being told,
that the great feal of an ufurper was no authority, and
that perfons, not lying under any fentence of attainder,
were ftill innocent in the eye of the law, and might be
admitted on any jury2
; he acquiefced, and pleaded
guilty. At his execution, he made profeffion of the ca- 22d Aug ,
tholic religion, and told the people, that they never would^[^Jj
31 '
enjoy tranquillity till they returned to the faith of their executed,
anceflors : Whether that fuch were his real fentiments,
which he had formerly difguifed, from intereft and ambi-
tion, or that he hoped, by this declaration, to render the
queen more favourable to his familya
. Sir Thomas Pal-
mer, and Sir John Gates fuffered with him ; and this
was all the blood fpilled on account of fo dangerous and
criminal an enterprize againit the rights of the fovereign.
Sentence was pronounced againft the lady Jane and lord
Guilford ; but without any prefent intention of putting
zBurnet,
vol. ii.p. 243. Heylin, p.
18.Baker, p. 316. Ho'lingihed,
p. 1089.a
Heylin, p. 19. Burnet, vol. »ii. p. I43.
Stowe, p. 614.
B b 3 it
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 388/481
3"4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c H A P. it in execution. The youth and innocence of the per-
* , L> fons, neither of whom had reached their feventeenth year,
«553» pleaded fufEciently in their favour.
When Mary firft arrived in the Tower, the duke of
Norfolk, who had been detained prifoner during all the
laft reign ; Courtney, fon of the marquis of Exeter,
who, without being charged with any crime, had been
fubje&ed to the fame punifhment ever fince his father's
attainder; Gardiner, Tonftal, and Bonner, who had beenconfined for their adhering to the catholic caufe, appeared
before her, and implored her clemency and protectionb
.
They were all of them reftored to their liberty, and im-
mediately admitted to her confidence and favour. Nor-
folk's attainder, notwithstanding that it had paffed in
Parliament, was reprefented as null and invalid ; becaufe,
among other informalities, no fpecial matter had been al-
ledged againft him, except wearing a coat of arms, which
he and his anceftors, without giving any offence, had al-
ways made ufe of, in the face of the court and of the
whole nation. Courtney foon after received the title of
earl of Devonfhire ; and though educated in fuch clofe
confinement, that he was altogether unacquainted withthe world, he foon acquired all the accomplifhments of
a courtier and a gentleman, and made a confiderable fi-
gure during the few years, which, he lived after he reco-
vered his libertyc
. Befides performing all thofe popular
a£ts, which, though they only affected individuals, were
very acceptable to the nation, the queen endeavoured to.
ingratiate herfelf with the public, by granting a general
pardon, though with fome exceptions, and by remittingthe fubfidy voted to her brother by the laft parliament
d.
The joy arifing from the fucceflion of the lawful heir>
and from the gracious demeanor of the fovereign, hin-
fe Heylin, p. ao. Stowe, p. 613. Hollingfhed, p. rogS.c Def eches de Noaiilcs, vol. ii. p. 246, 247. d Stcnvc. p. 616.
8 dered
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 389/481
MARY. 375
dercd not the people from being agitated with great anxietyc H A *•
n • 11 XXXV I.
concerning the (rate of religion ; and as the bulk of the*
v«
nation inclined to the proteftant communion, the appre-2 5S3*
hen (Ions, entertained concerning the principles and pre-
judices of the new queen, were pretty general. The le-
gitimacy of Mary's birth had appeared to be fomewhat
connected with the papal authority ; and that princefs,
being educated with her mother, had imbibed the ftrong-efl attachment to the catholic communion, and the high-
eft averfion to thofe new tenets, whence, fhe believed, all
the misfortunes of her family had originally fprung. The
difcouragements, which fhe lay under from her father,
though at lafl they brought her to comply with his will,
tended ftill more tc encreafe her difguft to the reformers ;
and the vexations, which the protector and the council
gave her, during Edward's reign, had no other effect than,
to confirm her farther in her prejudices. Naturally of a
four and obftinate temper, and irritated by contradiction
and misfortunes, {he pofTeffed all the qualities fitted to
compofc a bigot ; and her extreme ignorance rendered
her utterly incapable of doubt in her own belief, or of in-
dulgence to the opinions of others. The nation, there-
fore, had great reafon to dread, not only the abolition,
but the perfecution of the eftablifhed religion from the
zeal of Mary ; and it was not long ere file difcovered
her intentions.
Gardiner, Bonner, Tonftal, Day, Heath, and Vefcy^ Catholic re.
were reinftated in their fees, either by a direct act ofjjg
r°" re
"
power, or, what is nearly the fame, by the fentence of
commiffioners, appointed to review their trial and con-
demnation. Though the bifhopric of Durham had been
dilTolved by authority of parliament, the queen erected it^
a-new by letters-patent, and replaced Tonftal in his rega-lities as well as in his revenue. On
pretenceof difcou-
raging controverfy, fhe filenced, by an act of prerogative,
B b 4 all
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 390/481
376 HISTORY OF ENGLANDCHAPxxxvi.
all the preachers throughout England, except fuch as
fhould obtain a particular licence ; and it was eafy toJ 553- forefee, that none but the catholics would be favoured
with this privilege. Holgate, archbifhop of York, Co-
verdale, bifhop cf Exeter, Ridley of London, and Hooperof Glocefter, were thrown into prifon j whither old La-
timer alfo was fent foon after. The zealous bifhops and
priefts were encouraged in their forward nefs to revive the
mafs, though contrary to the prefent laws. JudgeHales, who had difcovered fuch conftancy in defendingthe queen's title, loft all his merit by an oppofition to thofe
illegal practices ; and being committed to cuftody, was
treated with fuch feverity, that he fell into frenzy, and
killed himfelf. The men of Suffolk were brow-beaten ;
becaufethey
prefumed to plead thepromife,
which the
queen, when they enliffcd themfelves in her fervice,
had given them, of maintaining the reformed religion :
One, in particular, was fet in the pillory, becaufe he
had been too peremptory, in recalling to her memorythe engagements which (he had taken on that occafion.
And though the queen frill promifed, in a public decla-
ration before the council, to tolerate thofe who differed
from her, men forefaw, that this engagement, like the
former, would prove but a feeble fecurity, when fet in
oppofition to religious prejudices.
The merits of Cranmer towards the queen, duringthe reign of Henry had been confiderable ; and he had
fuccefsfully employed his good offices in mitigating the
fevere prejudices which that monarch had entertained
againft her. But the active part, which he had borne
in promoting her mother's divorce, as well as in con-
dueling the reformation, had made him the object of her
hatred; and though Gardiner had been equally forward
infoliciting
anddefending
the divorce, he had afterwards
made fufficient atonement, by his fufferings in defence
of
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 391/481
MARY. 377
of the catholic caufe. The primate, therefore, had rea- cx
"x^j
P *
fon to expect little favour during the prefent reign ; butv v,
it was by his own indifcreet zeal, that he brought on *553.
himfelf the firft violence and perfecution. A report be-
ing- fpread, that Cranmer, in order to pay court to the
queen, had promifed to officiate in the Latin fervice,
the archbifhop, to wipe off this afperfion, publifhed a
manifefto in his own defence. Amongother
expreflions,he there faid, that, as the devil was a liar from the begin-
ning, and the father of lies, he had at this time ftirred
up his fervants to perfecute Chrift and his true religion :
That this infernal fpirit now endeavoured to reftore the
Latin fat is factory maffes, a thing of his own invention
and device j and in order to effect his purpofe, had
falfely made ufe of Cranmer's name and authority : Andthat the mafs is not only without foundation, either in
the Scriptures or in the practice of the primitive church,
but likewife difcovers a plain contradiction to antiquity
and the infpired writings, and is befides replete with
many horrid blafphemiesf
. On the publication of this
inflammatory paper, Cranmer was thrown into prifon,
and was tried for the part which he had acted, in con-
curring with the lady Jane, and oppofing the queen*saccefiion. Sentence of high treafon was pronounced
againft him ; and though his guilt was fhared with the
whole privy council, and was even lefs than that of the
greater part of them, this fentence, however fevere, mudbe allowed entirely legal. The execution of it, however,did not follow; and Cranmer was referved for a more
cruel punifhment.
Peter Martyr, feeing a perfecution gathering
againft the reformers, defired leave to withdraw 8; and
f Fox, vol. Hi. p. 94. Keylln, p. 25. Godwin, p. 336. Burnet, vol.
ii. Coll. N° 8. Cranm. Mem. p. 305. Thuanus, lib. xiii. c. 3.
g Heylin, p, 26, Godwin, p. 336. Cranm, Mem. p. 317.
while
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 392/481
378 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap, while fome zealous catholics moved for his commitmentt
'
> Gardiner both pleaded, that he had comi overby
an in-J SS1> vitation from the government, and generoufly furnifhed
him with fupplies for his journey : But as bigotted zeal
ftill encreafed, his wife's body, which had been interred
at Oxford, was afterwards dug up by public orders, and
buried in a dunghillh
. The bones of Bucer and Fa-
gius, two foreign reformers, were about the fame time
committed to the flames at Cambridge *. John a Lafcowas firft filenced. then ordered to depart the kingdomwith his congregation. The greater part of the foreign
proteftants followed him ; and the nation thereby loft
many ufeful hands for arts and manufactures. Several
Englifh proteftants alfo took fhelter in foreign parts;and every thing bore a difmal afpect for the reforma-
tion.
5th oa. During this revolution of the court, no protection
ment. was expected by proteftants from the parliament, which
was fummoned to affemble. A zealous reformer kpre-
tends, that great violence and iniquity were ufed in the
elections ; but befides that the authority of this writer is
inconfiderable, that practice, as the neceffities of go-vernment feldom required it, had not hitherto been often
employed in England. There ftill remained fuch num-
bers devoted, by opinion or affection, to many principles
of the ancient religion, that the authority of the crown
was able to give fuch candidates the preference in moft
elections ;and all thofe, who hefitated to
complywith
the court religion, rather declined taking a feat, which,
while it rendered them obnoxious to the queen, could
afterwards afford them no protection againft the violence
of prerogative. It foon appeared, therefore, that a ma-
ilHeylin, p. 16. i Saunders dc Schifm. Anglic. k Beale.
But Fox, who lived at the time, and is very minute in his narratives, fay»
nothing of the matter. See vol. iii. p. 16,
jority
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 393/481
MARY. 379
jority of the commons would be obfequious to Mary'sc H * **-
defigns ; and as the peers were moftly attached to the *«
court, from intereft or expectations, little oppofitiori was *S51«
expected from that quarter.
In opening the parliament, the court fhowed a con-
tempt of the laws, by celebrating, before the two houfes,a mafs of the Holy Ghoft, in the Latin tongue, attended
with all the ancient rites andceremonies, though abo-
lifhed by act of parliament '. Taylor, bifhop of Lin-coln having refufed to kneel at this fervice, was feverely
handled, and was violently tbruft out of the houfe *"„
The queen, however, ftill retained the title of fupremehead of the church of England ; and it was generally
pretended, that the intention of the court was only to
reftore religion to the fame condition in which it had
been left by Henry ; but that the other abufes of popery,which were the moft grievous to the nation, would never
be revived.
The firft bill, pafled by the parliament, was of a
popular nature, and aboliftied every fpecies of treafon,
not contained in the ftatute of Edward III. and every
fpecies of felonv, that did not fubflft before the flrft of
Henry VIII n. The parliament next declared the queea
to be legitimate, ratified the marriage of Henry with Ca*therine of Arragon, and annulled the divorce pronounced
by Cranmer , whom they greatly blamed on that account.
No mention, however,is made of the
pope's authority,as
any ground of the marriage. All the ftatutes of king
Edward, with regard to religion, were repealed by one
vote p. The attainder of the duke of Norfolk was re-
1 Fox, vol. iii.p. T9. • Burnet, vol. il. p. 252. ftMaris^
tf.-iT. 1. c. 1. By this repeal, though it was in general popular, the claufe of
5 & 6 E<iw.VI. c. it. vi?s
loft,which
requiredthe
confrontingof two wk-
neiTes, in order to prove any tre2fon. ° Maria:, felT, 2. c. 1. Pi Ma-
rl*, fc/T. z. c, i»
verfecr^
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 394/481
3 So HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C
XxxviP " verfed ' anc * tllis a( ^ or
*ju ft ice was more reafonable thai*
v-, v .1/
the declaring of that attainder invalid, without fartherJ 5S3* authority. Many claufes of the riot act, pafled in the
late reign, were revived : A ftep which eluded, in a great
meafure, the popular ftatute enacted at the firft meetingof parliament.
Notwithstanding the compliance of the two houfes
with the queen's inclinations, they had ftill a referve in
certain articles ; and her choice of a hufband, in parti-
cular, was of fuch importance to national intereft, that
they were determined not to fubmit tamely, in that re-
fpec~t, to her will and pleafure. There were three mar-
riages % concerning which it was fuppofed that Maryhad deliberated after her acceffion. The firft perfon pro-
pcfed to her, was Courtney, earl of Devonmire, who,being an Englifhman, nearly allied to the crown, could
not fail of being acceptable to the nation ; and as he was
of an engaging perfon and addrefs, he hadvifibly gained
on the queen's affections r, and hints were dropped him
of her favourable difpofitions towards him s. But that
nobleman neglected thefe overtures ; and feemed rather to
attach himfelf to the lady Elizabeth, whofe youth and
agreeable converfation he preferred to all the power and
grandeur of her fifter. This choice occafioned a great
coldnefs in Mary towards Devonmire; and made her
break out in a declared animofity againft Elizabeth. Theancient quarrel between their mothers had funk deep into
the malignant heart of the queen ; and after the decla-ration made by parliament in favour of Catherine's mar-
riage, fhe wanted not a pretence for reprefenting the
birth of her fifter as illegitimate. The attachment of
Elizabeth to the reformed religion ofFended Mary's bi-
gotry ; and as the young princefs had made fome diffi-
<3 Thiun. lib. i\ c. 3. r Depeches de Noailles, vol. il. p. I47#
163. 114, 215. vol. iii. p. 27.s Godwin, p, 339,
4 culty
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 395/481
MARY. 381
culty in difguifing her fentiments, violent menaces had c Hr
A p »
1" T"» 1AAA VI,
been employed to bring her to compliancel
. But when iyt
the queen found, that Elizabeth had obitru<5red her views J 553-
in a point, which, perhaps, touched her ftill more near-
ly, her refentment, excited by pride, no longer knew any
bounds ; and the princefs was vifibly expofed to the great-
eft danger u.
Cardinal Pole,who had never taken
prieft's orders,was another party propofed to the queen ; and there
appeared many reafons to induce her to make choice of
this prelate. The high character of Pole for virtue and
humanity ; the great regard paid him by the catholic
church, of which he had nearly reached the higheft dig-
nity on the death of Paul III. w;
the queen's affection
for the countefs of Salifbury, his mother, who had once
been her governefs ; the violent animofity to which he
had been expofed on account of his attachment to the
Romifh communion ; all thefe confiderations had a
powerful influence on Mary. But the cardinal was nowin the decline of life ; and having contracted habits of
ftudy and retirement,he
was repreientedto
her as unqua-lified for the buftle of a court, and the hurry of bufi-
nefs x. The queen, therefore, dropped all thoughts of
that alliance : But as fhe entertained a great regard for
Pole's wifdom and virtue, fhe ftill intended to reap the
benefit of his counfel in the adminiftration of her govern-oment. She fecretly entered into a negociation with
Commendone, an agent of cardinal Dandino, legate at
Bruffels ; (he fent affurances to the pope, then Julius
III. of her earneft defire to reconcile herfelf and her
kingdoms to the holy fee ; and fhe defired that Pole
might be appointed legate for the performance of that
pious office y.
* Dep. de Noailles, vol. ii. pafiim.u Heylin, p. 31. Burnet, vol. ii.
p. 255. w Father Paul, book iii, xHeylin, p. 31. y Burnet,
yol. ii. p, 258.
These
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 396/481
382 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c k A P. These two marriages beino- rejected, the queen caftxxxvr
*, hereye
towards theemperor's family,
from which heT
'SSS- mother was defcended, and which, during her own dif-
treffes, had always afforded her countenance and protec-
tion. Charles V. who a few years before was almoft
abfolute mafter of Germany, had exercifed his power in
fuch an arbitrary manner, that he gave extreme difguft
to the nation, who apprehended the total extinction of
their liberties from the encroachments of that monarch *.
Religion had ferved him as a pretence for his ufurpa-
tions; and from the fame principle he met with that op-
position, which overthrew his grandeur, and darned all
his ambitious hopes. Maurice, elector of Saxony, en-
raged that the landgrave of HefTe, who, by his advice,
and on his affurances, had put himfelf into the emperor'shands, fhould be unjuftly detained a prifoner, formed a
Secret confpiracy among the proteftant princes ; and co-
vering his intentions with the moft artful difguifes, he
fuddenly marched his forces againft Charles, and nar-
rowly miffed becoming mafter of his perfon. The pro-
tectants flew to arms in every quarter; and their infur-
rection, aided by an invafion from France, reduced the
emperor to fuch difficulties, that he was obliged to fub-
mit to terms of peace, which infured the independencyof Germany. To retrieve his honour, he made an at-
tack on France ; and laying fiege to Metz, with an armyof a hundred thoufand men, he conducted the enterprize
in perfon, and feemed determined, at all hazards, tofucceed in an undertaking which had fixed the attention
of Europe. But the duke of Guife, who defended Metz,with a garrifon compofed of the braveft nobility of France,
exerted fuch vigilance, conduct:, and valour, that the
fiege was protracted to the depth of winter; and the em-
peror found it dangerous to perfevere any longer. He
* Thuanus, lib, iv, c. 17,
retired
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 397/481
MARY. 383
retired with the remains of his army into the Low- chap.XXXVI.
Countries, much dejected with that reverfe of fortune,'
»
which, in his declining years, had fo fatally overtaken "5S3«
him.
No fooner did Charles hear of the death of Edwardjand the acceflion of his kinfwoman Mary to the crown
of England, than he formed the fcheme of acquiring
that kingdom to his family ; and he hoped, by this inci-
dent, to balance all the lofTes which he had fuftained in
Germany. His fon Philip was a widower; and thoughhe was only twenty-feven years of age, eleven years
younger than the queen, this objection, it was thought,
would be overlooked, and there was no reafon to defpair
of her ftill having a numerous ifTue. The emperor,
therefore, immediately fent over an agent to fignify his
intentions to Mary, who, pleafed with the fupport of fo
powerful an alliance, and glad to unite herfelf more
clofely with her mother's family, to which (he was ever
ftrongly attached, readily embraced the propofal. Nor-
folk, Arundel, and Paget, gave their advice for the
match : And Gardiner, who was become prime minifter,
and who had been promoted to the office of chancellor,
finding how Mary's inclinations lay, feconded the pro-
ject of the Spanifh alliance. At the fame time, he re-
prefented, both to her and the emperor, the neceflity of
flopping all farther innovations in religion, till the com-
pletionof the marriage. He obferved, that the parlia-
ment, amidft all their compliances, had difcovered evident
fymptoms of jealoufy, and feemed at prefent determined
to grant no farther conceflions in favour of the catho-
lic religion : That though they might make a facrifice to
their fovereign of fome fpeculative principles, which theydid not well comprehend, or of fome rites, which feemed
not of any great moment, they had imbibed fuch ftrong
prejudices againft the pretended wfurpations and exactions
of
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 398/481
384 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A P. of the court of Rome, that they would with great diffi-YYYVI
t
'
i
cultybe
again broughtto fubmit to its
authority: That
J ,553« the danger of rcfuming the abbey lands would alarm the
nobility and gentry, and induce them to encourage the
prepofiefiions, which were but too general among the
people, againft the doctrine and worfhip of the catholic
church : That much pains had been taken to prejudice
the nation againft the Spanifh alliance; and if that point
were urged, at the fame time with farther changes in re-
ligion, it would hazard a general revolt and infurrcclion:
That the marriage, being once completed, would give
authority to the queen's meafures, and enable her after-
wards to forward the pious work, in which (he was en-
gaged : And that it was even neceffary previously to
reconcile the people to the marriage, by rendering theconditions extremely favourable to the Englifh, and fuch
as would feem to enfure to them their independency, and
the entire pofFeffion of their ancient laws and privileges3
.
The emperor, well acquainted with the prudence and
experience of Gardiner, aflented to all thefe reafons ; and
he endeavoured to temper the zeal of Adary, by reprefent-
ino- the neceflity of proceeding gradually in the great
work of converting the nation. Hearing that cardinal
Pole, more fincere in his religious opinions, and lefs
guided by the maxims of human policy, after having fent
contrary advice to the queen, had fet out on his journey
to England, where he was to exercife his legantine com-
miffion ; he thought proper to flop him at Dillinghen, a
town on the Danube ; and he afterwards obtained Mary's
confent for this detention. The negociation for the mar-
riage mean-while proceeded apace ; and Mary's inten-
tions of efpoufing Philip became generally known to the
nation. The commons, who hoped that they had gained
the queen bythe conceflions which
theyhad
already
z Burnet, vol. ii. p. a6i,
made,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 399/481
U A R Y. 3S5
Knade, were alarmed to hear, that fhe wa3 rcfolved to c H A P.XXXVI
sontracl a foreign alliance; and they fent a committee to.
*j
remonftrate in ftrong terms, againft that dangerous mea- '553*
fure. To prevent farther applications of the fame kind,
fhe thought proper to diilblve the parliament.
A convocation had been fummoned at the fame
time with the parliament ; and the majoiity here alfo ap-
peared to be of the court religion. An offer was very
frankly made by the Romanifts, to difpute concerningthe points controverted between the two communions;and as tranfubftantiation was the article, which, of all
others, they deemed the clearer}, and founded on the
moft irrefiflible arguments, they chofe to try their ftrength
by defending it. The protectants pufhed the difpute as
far as the clamour and noife of their antagonifts would
permit; and they fondly imagined, that they had ob-
tained fome advantage, when, in the courfe of the de-
bate, they obliged the catholics to avow, that, accordingto their doctrine, Chrift had, in his laft fupper, held him-
felf in his hand, and had fwallowed and eaten himfelf a.
This triumph, however, was confinedonly
to their own
party : The Romanics maintained, that their championshad clearly the better of the day; that their adverfaries
were blind and obftinate heretics ; that nothing but the
mod extreme depravity of heart could induce men to con-
teft fuch felf-evident principles ; and that the fevereft
punifiiments were due to their perverfe wickednefs. So
pleafed were they with their fuperiority in this favourite
point, that they foon after renewed the difpute at Ox-ford ; and to (how, that they feared no force of learning
or abilities, where reafon was fo evidently on their fide,
they fent thither Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley, under
a guard, to try whether thefe renowned controverfialift s
could findany appearance
ofargument
to defend their
a Collier, vol. ii, p, 356. Fox, vol. iii, p. 22,
Vol. IV. C c baffled
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 400/481
3 86 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,C
vvyvt^' baiHed principlesb
. The iflue of the debate was very
v_^_< 'different from what it appeared to be a few years before,l SSh in a famous
conference,held at the fame
place, duringthe reign of Edward.
After the parliament and convocation were difmiffed,
the new laws with regard to religion, though they had
been anticipated, in moft places, by the zeal of the ca-
tholics, countenanced by government, were ftill more
openly put in execution : The mafs was every where re-
eftablifhed ; and marriage was declared to be incompatible
with any fpiritual office. It has been afferted by fome
writers, that three fourths of the clergy were, at this
time, deprived of their livings ; though other hiftorians,
more accurate c, have eftimated the number of fufferers
to be far (hort of thisproportion.
A vifitation wasap-
pointed, in order to reftore more perfectly the mafs and
the ancient rites, Among other articles, the commiflfion-
ers were enjoined to forbid the oath of fupremacy to be
taken by the clergy on their receiving any benefice d. It
is to be obferved, that this oath had been eftabliflied bythe laws of Henry VIII. which were ftill in force.
This violent and fudden change of religion infpired
ferriage the proteftants with great difcontent ; and even affected
with Philip, indifferent fpectators with concern, by the hardfhips, to
which fo many individuals were on that account expofed.
But the Spanifh match was a point of more general con-
cern, and diffufed univerfal apprehenfions for theliberty
and independanceof the nation.
Toobviate all
clamour,the articles of marriage were drawn as favourable as pof-
fible for the intereft and fecurity, and even grandeur of
England. It was agreed, that, though Philip fhould
have the title of king, the adminiftration fhould be en-
* Mem, Cranm. p. 354. Heyiin, p. 50.c Harmer, p. 138.
d Collier, vol, ii, p, 364, Fox, vol, iii. p. 38, Hcylin, p. 35. Sici-
lian, lib, 25,
tirely
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 401/481
M A R Yw 387
tirely in the queen ; that no foreigner fhould be capable CHAP,
of enjoying any office in the kingdom; that no innova-tion fhould be made in the Englifh laws, cuftoms, and »5S4
privileges > that Philip fhould not carry the queen abroad
without her confent, nor any of her children without the
confent of the nobility ; that fixty thoufand pounds a yearfhould be fettled as her jointure ; that the male iffue ofthis marriage fhould inherit, together with England,both Burgundy and the Low-Countries ; and that, if
Don Carlos, Philip's fon by his former marriage, fhould
die and his line be extinct, the queen's iffue, whether
male or female, fhould inherit Spain, Sicily, Milan,and all the other dominions of Philip
e. Such was the
treaty of marriage figned by count Egmont, and three 15th Ja»J
other ambaffadors fent over to England by the emperor f .
These articles, when publifhed, gave no fatisfadtion
to the nation : It was univerfally faid, that the emperor*
in order to get pofTeflion of England, would verbally
agree to any terms ; and the greater advantage there ap-
peared in the conditions which he granted, the more cer-
tainly mightit be concluded, that he had no ferious
intention of obferving them : That the ufual fraud and
ambition of that monarch might allure the nation of fuch
a conduct; and his fon Philip, while he inherited thefe
vices from his father, added to them tyranny, fullennefs*
pride, and barbarity, more dangerous vices of his own :
That England would become a province, and a province
to a kingdom which ufually exercifed the moft violent
authority over all her dependant dominions : That the
Netherlands, Milan, Sicily, Naples groaned under the
burthen of Spanifh tyranny ; and throughout all the new
conquefts in America there had been difplayed fcenes of
unrelenting cruelty, hitherto unknown in the hiftory of
mankind : That the inquifition was a tribunal invented
« Rytner, xr. p. 377** Depechesde Noailles, vol, ii, p, 299.
C C 2 bj;
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 402/481
$S$ HISTORY OF ENGLAND,c H A p.
t»y that tyrannical nation; and would infallibly, with allJvA A \ J. r
c v „ their other laws and inftitutions, be intioduced into
Eng-*554» land : And that the divided fentiments of the people with
regard to religion would fubjeclmulcicudes to this iniqui-
tous tribunal, and would reduce the whole nation to the
moft abject fervitude s.
These complaints being diffufed every where, pre-
pared the people for a rebellion ; and had any foreign
power given them encouragement, or any great man ap-
peared to head them, the confequences might have proved
fatal to the queen's authority. But the king of France,
though engaged in hoftilities with the emperor, refufed
to concur in any propofal for an infurrection, left he
fliould afford Mary a pretence for declaring war againft
himh
. And the more prudent part of the nobility
thought, that, as the evils of the Spanifh alliance were
only dreaded at a diftance, matters were not yet fully
prepared for a general revolt. Some perfons, however,
more turbulent than the reft, believed, that it would be
fafer to prevent than to redrefs grievances ; and they
formed a confpiracy to rife in arms, and declare againft
Wiat's in- tne queen's marriage with Philip. Sir Thomas Wiatturredion.
p Ur p fed to raife Kent, Sir Peter Carew, Devonfhire ;
and they engaged the duke of Suffolk, by the hopes of
recovering the crown for the lady Jane, to attempt raif-
ing the midland counties '. Carew's impatience or ap-
prehenfions engaged him to break the concert, and to
rife in arms before the day appointed : He was foon fup-
preffed by the earl of Bedford, and conftrained tofly into
France. On th;s intelligence, Suffolk, dreading an ar-
reft, fuddenly left the town, with his brothers, lord
Thomas, and lord Leonard Gray ; and endeavoured to
-faife the people in the counties of Warwic and Leicefter ;
g Heylin, p. jz. Burnet, vol. ii. p. 268. Godwin, p. 339,* Depeches deNoailles, vol. ii. p. 24.9. vol. iii. p. 17. 58,*
Heylin, p. 33. Godwin, p. 340.
where
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 403/481
MARY, 389
where his intereft lay : But he was fo clofely purfued by c H A p <
. . r}
rJ
xxxvi.the earl of Huntingdon, at the head or 300 horfe, that ,^
he was obliged todifperfe his followers, and being difco- 1 554«
vered in his concealment, he was carried prifoner to Lon-
don k. Wiat was at fir ft more fuccefsful in his attempt i
and having publifhed a declaration at Maidftone in Kent,
againft the queen's evil counfcllors and againft the Spa-
nifh match, without any mention of religion, the people
began to flock to his ftandard. The duke of Norfolk
with Sir Henry Jcrnegan was fent againft him, at the
head of the guards and fome other troops, reinforced with
500 Londoners commanded by Bret : And he came
within fight of the rebels at Rochefter, where they had
fixed theirhead-quarters.
SirGeorge Harper
herepre-
tended to defert from them ; but having fecretly gained
Bret, thefe two malcontents fo wrought on the London-
ers, that the whole body deferted to Wiat, and declared
that they would not contribute to enflave their native
country. Norfolk, dreading the contagion of the ex-
ample, immediately retreated with his troops, and took
fhelter in the city *.
After this proof of the difpofitions of the people,
efpecially of the Londoners, who were moftly proteftants,
Wiat was encouraged to proceed : He led his forces to
Southwark, where he required of the queen, that fhe
fhould put the Tower into his hands, fhould deliver four
counfellors as hoflages, and in order to enfure the liberty
of the nation, mould immediately marry an Englishman.
Finding that the bridge was fecured againft him, and that
the city was overawed, he marched up to Kingfton, where
he palled the river with 4COO men ; and returning to-
wards London, hoped to encourage his partizans, who
had engaged to declare for him. He had imprudentlyk Fox, vol.iii. p 30.
*
Heylin, p. 3-?. Godwij, p. 341.
Stowe, p. 619. taker, p. 318. Hollingftied, p. 1094,
C c 3 wafted
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 404/481
390 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, wafted fo much time at Southwark, and in his march
XXXVI.i '/
frnm Kingfton, that the critical feafon, on which allJ SS4« popular commotions depend, was entirely loft : Though
he entered Weftminfter without refiftance, his followers,
finding that no perfon of note joined him, infenfibly fell
off, and he was at laft feized near Temple-Bar by Sir
$th Feb. Maurice Berkeleym
. Four hundred perfons are faid to
have fuffered for this rebellion n: Four hundred more
were conducted before the queen with ropes about their
necks j and falling on their knees, received a pardon,Infurre£lion an( j were difmiflfed. Wiat was condemned and executed :
fupprened.As it had been reported, that, on his examination, he
had accufed the lady Elizabeth and the earl of Devon-
{hire as accomplices, he took care on the fcaffold, before
the whole people, fully to acquit them of having any fhare
in his rebellion,
The lady Elizabeth had been, during fome time,
treated with great harfhnefs by her fifter j and many ftu-
died inftances of difcouragement and difrefpecl had been
pra&ifed againft her. She was ordered to take place at
court after the countefs of Lenox and the dutcheis ofSuf-
folk, as if fhe were not legitimate°
: Her friends were
difcountenanced on every occafion : And while her vir-
tues, which were now become eminent, drew to her the
attendance of all the young nobility, and rendered her
the favourite of the nation p, the malevolence of the
queen ftill difcovered itielf every day by frefh fymptoms,and obliged the prmcefs to retire into the country. Maryfeized the opportunity of this rebellion; and hoping to
involve her filter in fome appearance of guilt, fent for her
under a ftrong guard, committed her to the Tower, and
ordered her to beftrierly examined by the council. But
m Fox, vo!. iii. p. 31. Hcyiin, p. 34. Burnet, vol. ii p, 270, Stpwe^
p. 621. ' Depechea de NoailJer, vol ii . p. u >g
P Jbid. vol. ii, p. 2/3. *83. p Ib.d f p. 273,
the.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 405/481
MARY. 39 r
the public declaration made by Wiat rendered it imprac- chap.ticable to employ againft her any falfe evidence, which
'
j
might have offered ; and the princefs made fo good a de- J 554*
fence, that the queen found herfelf under a neceffity of
releafing her i. In order to fend her out of the kingdom,a marriage was offered her with the duke of Savoy ; and
when {he declined the propofal, {he was committed to
cuftody, under a ftrong guard, at Wodeftoke r . Theearl of Devonihire, though equally innocent, was con«
fined in Fotheringay caftle.
But this rebellion proved flill more fatal to the lady
Jane Gray, as well as to her hufband : The duke of Suf-
folk's guilt was imputed to her ; and though the rebels
and malcontents feemed chiefly to reft their hopes on the
lady Elizabeth and the carl of Devonfnire, the queen,
incapable of generofity or clemency, determined to re-
move every perfon from whom the leaft danger could be
apprehended. Warning was given the lady Jane to pre-
pare for death ; a doom which {he had long expected,
and which the innocence of her life, as well as the mif-
fortunes, to which {he had been expofed, rendered nowifeunwelcome to her. The queen's zeal, under colour of
tender mercy to the prifoner's foul, induced her to fend
divines, who haraffed her with perpetual difputation 5 and
even a reprieve for three days was granted her, in hopesthat {he would be perfuaded, during that time, to pay,
bya
timelyconverfion, fome
regardto her eternal welfare.
The lady Jane had prcfence of mind, in thofe melancholy
circumftances, not on'y to defend her religion by all the
topics then in ufe, but alfo to write a letter to her fifter s
in the Greek language ; in which, befides fending her a
copy of the Scriptures in that tongue, {he exhorted her to
<l Godwin, p. 343. Burnet, vol. ii. p. Z73« Fox, vol. mix. p. 99, 105.
Strype's Mem. vol. iii. p S5.r
Depeches de Noailjes, vol. iii,
f. 2JKS. * fox, vol. iii. p. 35. Heylin, p. 166,
Qc 4 maintain,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 406/481
392 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap, maintain in every fortune, a like fteady perfeverance,
*
'
i On the day of her execution, her Kufband, lord Guilfordx 554« defired permifilon to fee her ; but fhe refufcd her confent
lath Feb. . . \- , ,.
, rr »'
and informed him by a meiiage 3 that the tendernefs of
their parting would overcome the fortitude of both, and
would too much unbend their minds from that conftancy,which their approaching end required of them : Their
feparation, (he faid, would be only for a moment ; and
they would foon rejoin each other in a fcene, where their
affections would be for ever united, and where death,
difappointfnent, and misfortunes could no longer have
accefs to them, or difturb- their eternal felicityr
.
It had been intended to execute the lady Jane and lord
Guilford together on the fame fcafFold at Tower-hill j
but the council, dreading the companion of the people
for their youth, beauty, innocence, and noble birth,
changed their orders, and gave directions that fhe mould
Execution be beheaded within the verge of the Tower. She faw
Cray/ ^ er nu ^ :)an ^ kd t0 execution ; and having given him from
the window fome token of her remembrance, flic waited
wich tranquillity till her own appointed hourfhould brino-
her to a like fate. She even faw his headlefs bodv car-ried back in a cart ; and found herfelf more conrirmed bythe reports, which fne heard of the conftancy of his end,than fhaken by fo tender and melancholy a fpectacle.
Sir John Cage, conftabie of the Tower, when he led her
toexecurijn, deilred her to beftow on him fome fmall
prefent, which he might keep as a perpetual memorial of
her : She gave him her table-book, on which fhe had
jud written three fentences on feeing her hufband's dead
body ; one in Greek, another in Latin, a third in Eng-glilh
u. The purport of them was, that human juftice
was againft his body, but divine mercy would be fa-
vourable to his foul ; that, if her fault deferved punifh-
t He\lin ; £ J 6;. Baker, p. 319. uHfylin, p. 167.
ment.,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 407/481
MARY* 3*3
rnent, her youth at leaft, and her imprudence were wor- chap.thy of excufe ; and that God and pqfterity, fhe trufted, v ywould fhow her favour. On the fcaffold, fhe made a 'SS4*
fpeech to the by-ftanders ; in which the mildnefs of her
difpofition led her to take the blame wholly on herfelf,
without uttering one complaint againft the feverity, with
which fhe had been treated. She faid, that her offence
was not thehaving
laid her hand upon the crown, but
the not rejecting it with fufftcient conftancy : That fhe
had lefs erred through ambition than through reverence
to her parents, whom fhe had been taught to refpect and
obey : That fhe willingly received death, as the only fa-
tisfaclion, which fhe could now make to the injured ftate;
and though her infringement of the laws had been con*
{trained, (lie would fhow, by her voluntary fubmiflion'ta
their fentence, that fhe was defirous to atone for that
dilbbedience, into which too much filial piety had betray-
ed her : That (he had juftly deferved this puniftiment for
being made the inftrument, though the unwilling inftru-
ment, of the ambition of others : And that the ftory of
her life, fhehoped, might
at leaft be ufeful,by proving
that innocence excufes not great mifdeeds, if they tend anywife to the deftruction of the commonwealth. After ut-
tering thefe words, fhe caufed herfelf to be difrobed by her
-women ; and with a fteddy ferene countenance fubmitted
herfelf to the executioner w:
The duke of Suffolk was tried, condemned, and ex-
ecuted foon after ; and would have met with more com-
panion, had not his temerity been the caufe of his daugh-ter's untimely end. Lord Thomas Gray loft his life for
the fame crime. Sir Nicholas Throgmorton was tried in
Guildhall ; but there appearing no fatisfa&ory evidence
againft him, he was able, by making an admirable de-
fence,to obtain a
verdictof the
jury inhis
favour.
v Hcylia, p. 167, Fox, vol, iii. p. 36, 37. Hollingflieii, p. 1099.
The
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 408/481
39+ HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP. The queen was fo enraged at this difappointment, that,
r
'
t inflead of releafing him as the law required, {he re-com-*554\ mitted him to the Tower, and kept him in clofe confine-
ment during fome time. But her refentment flopped not
here : The jury, being fummoned before the council,
were all fent to prifon, and afterwards fined, fome of them
a thoufand pounds, others two thoufand a-piecex
. This
violence proved fatal to feveral ; among others to Sir
John Throgmorton, brother to Sir Nicholas, who was
condemned on no better evidence than had formerly been
rejected. The queen filled the Tower and all the prifons
with nobility and gentry, whom their intereft with the
nation, rather than any appearance of guilt, had made
the obje&s of her fufpicion. And finding, that fhe was
univerfally hated, fhe determined to difable the people
from refiftance, by ordering general muflers, and direct-
ing the commimoners to feize their arms, and lay them
up in forts and caftles y.
Though the government laboured under fo general an
odium, the queen's authority had received fuch an en-
creaf^: from thefuppreffion
of Wiat'srebellion,
that the
mimftry hoped to find a compliant difpofition in the new
parliament which was fummoned to afTemble. TheA parlia- emperor, alfo, in order to facilitate the fame end, had
cthAprU.borrowed no lefs a fum than 400,000 crowns, which he
had fent over to England, to be diftributed in bribes and
penfions among the members : A pernicious practice, of
which there had not hitherto been any inftance in Eng-land. And not to give the public any alarm with regard
to the church lands, the queen, notwithftanding her bi-
gotry, refumed her title of fupreme head of the church,
which fhe had dropped three months before. Gardiner,
* Fox, vol. iii. p. 99. Stowe, p. 624. Baker, p. 320. Holiingflied,
p. 1104, 1121. Strype, vol. iii. p. 120. Dep. de Npaiiles, voJ. iii. p. 173*
y Dep. 8e Noaillcs, vol, iii, p. 98,
the
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 409/481
MARY. 395
the chancellor, opened the feflion by a fpeech : in which chap..
XXXVI.he aflerted the queen's hereditary title to the crown . t
*.
maintained her right of chufing a hufband for herfelf ; *554-
obferved how proper a ufe fhe had made of that right,
by giving the preference to an old ally, defcended from
the houfe of Burgundy; and remarked the failure of
Henry V Ill's pofterity, of whom there now remained
none but the queen and the lady Elizabeth. He added,
that, in order to obviate the inconveniencies, which
might arife from different pretenders, it was neceflary to
invert the queen, by law, with a power of difpofing of
the crown, and of appointing her fucceflbr : A power,he faid, which was not to be thought unprecedented in
England, fince it hadformerly
been conferred onHenryVIII «.
The parliament was much difpofed to gratify the
queen in all her defires ; but when the liberty, indepen-
dency, and very being of the nation were in fuch vifible
danger, they could not by any means be brought to com-
pliance. They knew both the inveterate hatred, which
{he bore to the lady Elizabeth, and her devoted attach-
ment to the houfe of Auftria : They were acquaintedwith her extreme bigotry, which would lead her to poft-
pone all confiderations of juftice or national interefl to the
eftablifhment of the catholic religion : They remarked,that Gardiner had carefully avoided, in his fpeech, the
givingto Elizabeth the
appellationof the
queen's filter;and they thence concluded, that a defign was formed of
excluding her as illegitimate: They expected, that Mary,if inverted with fuch a power as fhe required, would makea will in her hufband's favour, and thereby render Eng-land for ever a province to the Spanifh monarchy : Andthey were the more alarmed with thefe projects, as
jhey heard, that Philip's defcent from the houfe of Lan-
a Depeches de Noailles,
eafler
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 410/481
396 HISTORY OF ENGLAND*CHAP- cafter was carefully infifted on, and that he was publicly
i,
*j
reprefentedas the true and
onlyheir
by rightof inheri-
i$54« tance.
The parliament, therefore, aware of their danger, were
determined to keep at adiftance from the precipice, which
lay befpre them. They could not avoid ratifying the ar-
ticles of marriagea
, which were drawn very favourable
for England ; but they declined the pafling of any fuch law
as the chancellor pointed out to them : They would not fo
much as declare it treafon to imagine or attempt the death
of the queen's hufband, while fhe was alive; and a bill
introduced for that purpofe, was laid afide after the firft
reading. The more effectually to cut off Philip's hopesof poiTeffing any authority in England, they pafTed a law,
in which they declared," that her
majefty as their only"queen, fhould folely and as a fole queen, enjoy the
" crown and fovereignty of her realms, with all the pre-"
eminencies, dignities, and rights thereto belonging, in
" as large and ample a manner after her marriage as be-€<
fore, without any title or claim accruing to the prince* c of Spain, either as tenant by courtefy of the realm,is or by any other means b ."
A law paffed in this parliament for re-erecting the
bifhopric of Durham, which had been difiolved by the
laft parliament of Edward c. The queen had already, by
an exertion of her power, put Tonftal in pofTeiTion of that
fee : But though it was uiual at that time for the crown
to aflume authority which might leem entirely legiflative,
it was always deemed more fafe and fatisfadtory to pro-
cure the fanclion of parliament. Bills were introduced
for fuppreiTing heterodox opinions contained in books,
and for reviving the law of the fix articles, together with
thofe againft. the Lollards, and againft herefy and erro-
neouspreaching
: But none of thefe laws could pafs th©
a I Mar. Pari. z. cap. 2, b Ibid. cap. I. c Ibid. cap. 5.
two
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 411/481
Mary. 397
two houfes. A proof, that the parliament had referves chap,YYYVI
even in their conceflions with regard to religion ; about *,
which they feem to have been lefs fcrupulous. The 2554.
queen, therefore, finding that they would not ferve all her
purpofes, finished the feflion by diflblving them. 5 th Mavj»
Mary's thoughts were now entirely employed about
receiving Don Philip, whofe arrival {he hourly expected.This princefs, who had lived fo many years in a very re-
ferved and private manner, without any profpect or hopes of
a hufband, was fo fmitten with affection for her youngconfort, whom fhe had never feen, that fhe waited with
the utmoft impatience for the completion of the marriage ;
and every obftacle was to her a fource of anxiety and dif-
content d. She complained of Philip's delays as affected ;
and fhe could not conceal her vexation, that, though fhe
brought him a kingdom as her dowry, he treated her with
fuch neglect, that he had never yet favoured her with a fingleletter e
. Her fondnefs was but the more encreafed by this
fupercilious treatment ; and when fhe found that her Sub-
jects had entertained the greatefr. averfion for the event,to which fhe directed her fondeft
wifhes,fhe made the
whole Englifh nation the object of her refentment. Afquadron, under the command of lord Effingham, hadbeen fitted out to convoy Philip from Spain, where he
then refided ; but the admiral informing her, that the dis-
contents ran very high among the feamen, and that it
was not fafe for Philip to entruft himfelf in their hands,fhe gave orders to difmifs them f
. She then dreaded, left
the French fleet, being matters of the fea, might inter-r
cept her hufband ; and every rumour of danger, everyblaft of wind, threw her into panics and convulfions. Her
health, and even her underftanding, were vifibly hurt by
dStrype, vol. iii. p. 1*5. e
Depechesdc
Noaillcs,vol. iii.
£. 248. f Ibid, p, ZZ9,
this
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 412/481
39 S HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, this extreme impatience ; and fhe was ftruck with a neW
^*^j apprehenfion, left her perfon, impaired by time, and blafted
*554- by ficknefs, fhould prove difagreeable to her future con-
fort. Her glafs difcovered to her how hagard fhe was
become -
y and when (he remarked the decay of her beauty,
fhe knew not whether fhe ought more to defire or appre-
hend the arrival of Philip s.
x 9 th July. At laft came the moment fo impatiently expected ; and
fivaitnE
1
'"- news was brought tne qu ee n of Philip's arrival at South-Uni *
amptonh
. A few days after, they were married in Weft-
minfter ; and having made a pompous entry into London,
where Philip difplayed his wealth with great oftentation,
fhe carried him to Windfor, the palace in which they
afterwards refided. The prince's behaviour was ill cal-
culated to remove theprejudices,
which the Englifh na-
tion had entertained againft him. He was diftant and
referved in his addrefs ; took no notice of the falutes even
of the moft confiderable noblemen ; and fo entrenched
himfelf in form and ceremony, that he was in a man-
ner inacceflible *: But this circumflance rendered him the
more acceptable to the queen, who defired to have no
company but her hufband's, and who was impatient
when fhe met with any interruption to her fondnefs. The
fhorteft abfence gave her vexation ; and when he fhowed
civilities to any other woman, fhe could not conceal her
jealoufy and refentment.
Mary foon found, that Philip's ruling paffion was
ambition ; and that the only methodof
gratifying himand fecuring his affections, was to render him mafter of
g Depeches de Noailles, vol. ill. p. 222. 252, l$l*
k Fox, vol. iii. p. 99. Heylin, p. 39. Burner, vol. Hi. p. 392. God-
win, p. 345. We are told by Sir William Monfon, p. 225, that the admi-
ral of England fired at the Spanifh navy, when Philip was on board ; becaufe
they had not lowered their topfails, as a mark of deference to the Englift
navyin the narrow fcas. A very fpirited behaviour, and very unlike thofe
timet.i B*l« r
> p. 31.0. _; '. .
England,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 413/481
MARY; 399
England. The intereft and liberty of her people were c HAP.confederations of fmall
moment,in
comparifonof her fiH.L »
taining this favourite point. She fummoned a new par-, SS4»
liament, in hopes of finding them entirely compliant ; and
that (he might acquire the greater authority over them,fhe imitated the precedent of the former reign, and wrote
circular letters directing a proper choice of members k.
The zeal of the catholics, the influence of Spanifh gold,i*th Nor*
the powers of prerogative, the difcouragement of the gen-
try, particularly of the proteftants ; all thefe caufes, fe-
conding the intrigues of Gardiner, had procured her a
houfe of commons, which was, in a great meafure, to her
fatisfaction ; and it was thought, from the difpofition of
the nation, that fhe might now fafely omit, on her affem-
blingthe
parliament,the title of
fupreme head of the
churchy though infeparably annexed by law to the crownof England K Cardinal Pole had arrived in Flanders, in-
verted with legantine powers from the pope : In order to
prepare the way for his arrival in England, the parliament
patted an act, reverfing his attainder, and reftoring his
blood ; and the queen, difpenfing with the old flatute of
provifors, granted him permiffion to act as legate. Thecardinal came over ; and after being introduced to the
king and queen, he invited the parliament to reconcile
themfelves and the kingdom to the apoftolic fee, from
which they had been fo long and fo unhappily divided.
This mefTage was taken in good part ; and both houfes
voted an addrefs to Philip and Mary, acknowledging that
they had been guilty of a m-oft horrible defection from
the true church ; profeffing a fincere repentance of their
paft tranfgreflions ; declaring their refolution to repeal all
laws enacted in prejudice of the church of Rome; and
praying their majefties, that, fince they were happily un-
it
Mem. of Cranm. p. 344. Strype's Eccl. Mem. ?ol t iii. p. 154, 155,1 Burnet, vol, ii.p, 491, Strype, Tol t iii, p. 155.
infected
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 414/481
4 oo HISTORY OF ENGLAND,c H A P. infected with that criminal fchifm, they would intercedeXXXVI
^_ 'i With the holy father for the abfolution and forgivenefs of
»554« their penitent fubjectsm
. The requeft was eafily granted.
The legate, in the name of his holinefs, gave the parlia-
ment and kingdom abfolution, freed them from all cenfures,
and received them again into the bofom of the church.
The pope, then Julius III. being informed of thefe trans-
actions, faid, that it was an unexampled inftance ©f his
felicity, to receive thanks from the Englifh, for allowingthem to do what he ought to give them thanks for per-
formingn
.
Notwithstanding the extreme zeal of thofe times,
for and againft popery, the object always uppermoft with
the nobility and gentry, was their money and eftates ;
They were not brought to make thefe conceflions in fa-
vour of Rome, till they had received repeated aflurances,
from the pope as well as the queen, that the plunder,
which they had made on the ecclefiaftics, fhould never be
enquired into 3 and that the abbey and church lands
fhould remain with the prefent pofTerTors °. But not
trufting altogether to thefe promifes, the parliament took
care, in the law itfelf p, by which they repealed the for-
mer ftatutes enacted againft the pope's authority, to infert
a claufe, in which, befides beftowing validity on all mar-
riages celebrated during the fchifm, and fixing the right
of incumbents to their benefices, they gave fecurity to th e
poffeflbrs of church lands, and freed them from all dan-
gerof ecclefiaftical cenfures. The convocation
alfo,in
order to remove apprehenfions on that head, were induced
to prefent a petition to the fame purpofe1
j and the le-
gate, in his matter's name, ratified all thefe tran factions.
*n Fox, vol. iii. p. 3. Heylin, p. 4*. Burnet, vol. ii. p. 193. God-
win, p. 447.n Father Paul, lib, iv. °
Heylin, p. 41.
P 1 & * Phil. & Mar. c. 8. * Heylin, p. 43. 1 & a Phil*
He Mar. c. 8. Strype, vol. iii, p. 159*
ft
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 415/481
MARY. 40 r
It now appeared, that, notwithstanding the efforts of the CHAP.XXXVI
queen and king, the power of the papacy was effectuallyv, \
fuppreffed in England, and invincible barriers fixed againft1 S5^*
its re-eftablifhment. For though thejurifdfetion of the ec-
clefiaftics was, for the prefent, reftored, their property, on
which their power much depended, was irretrievably loft,
and no hopes remained of recovering it. Even thefe ar-
bitrary, powerful,and
bigotted princes,while the tranf-
aclions were yet recent, could not regain to the church
her poiTeflions fo lately ravifhed from her ; and no expe-dients were left to the clergy for enriching themfelves, but
thofe which they had at firft practifed, and which had re-
quired many ages of ignorance, barbarifm, and fuperfti-
tion, to produce their effect on mankind r.
The parliament, having fecured their own poffefHons,
were more indifferent with regard to religion, or even to
the lives of their fellow-citizens : They revived the old
fanguinary laws againft heretics % which had been rejected
in the former parliament: They alfo enacted feveralftatutes
againft feditious words and rumours *
; and they made it
treafon toimagine
orattempt
the death ofPhilip, during
his marriage with the queenu
. Each parliament hitherto
had been induced to go a ftep farther than their predecef-
fors ; but none of them had entirely loft all regard to na-
tional interefts. Their hatred againft the Spaniards, as
well as their fufpicion of Philip's pretenfions, ftill pre-
vailed ; and though the queen attempted to get her hufband
declared prefumptive heir of the crown, and to have the
adminiftration put into his hands ; fhe failed in all her
endeavours, and could not fo much as procure the parlia-
ment's confent to his coronation w. All attempts like-
wife to obtain fubfidies from the commons, in order to
r See note [RJ at the end of the volume. » 1 & t Phil. &Mar. c. 6. ' Ibid. c. 3. 9. u Ibid. c. 10.
w Godwin, p. 3«.8, Baker, p 322.
Vol. IV. D d fupport
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 416/481
402 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap, fupport the emperor in his war againft France, proved
'j fniitlefs : The ufual animofity and jealoufy of the Eng-1554* lifh againft that kingdom, feemed to have given place, for
the prefent, to like paflions againft Spain, Philip, fen-
fible of the prepofTeflions entertained againft him, endea-
voured to acquire popularity by procuring the releafe of
feveral prifoners of diftinction ; lord Henry Dudley, Sir
George Harper, Sir Nicholas Throgmorton, Sir Edmond
Warner, Sir William St. Lo, Sir Nicholas Arnold, Har-
rington, Tremaine, who had been confined from the fuf-
picions or refentment of the court 3*. But nothing was
more agreeable to the nation than his protecting the lady
Elizabeth from the fpite and malice of the queen, and
reftoring her to liberty. This meafure was not the
effect ofany generofity
inPhilip,
a fentiment of which
he was wholly deftitute ; but of a refined policy, which
made him forefee, that, if that princefs were put to
death, the next lawful heir was the queen of Scots, whofe
fucceflion would for ever annex England to the crown of
France. The earl of Devonfhire alfo reaped fqme benefit
from Philip's affectation of popularity, and recovered his
liberty : But that nobleman, finding himfelf expofed to
fufpicion, begged permifHon to travel y; and he foon after
died at Padua, from poifon, as is pretended, given him bythe Imperialifts. He was the eleventh and laft earl of De-
vonfhire of that noble family, one of the moil illuftrious
in Europe.
The queen's extremedefire
of having ifiue,had
madeher fondly give credit to any appearance of pregnancy ;
and when the legate was introduced to her, fhe fancied,
that fhe felt the embryo ftir in her womb z. Her flatter-
ers compared this motion of the infant to that of Johnthe Baptift, who leaped in his mother's belly at the falu-
* Kejlin, p. 39. Burner, vol. ii. p. 2S7. Stowf, p. 6:6. Dcpeches dp
Noailles, vol. iv. p. 1^6, 147. y Heylin, p. 40. Codwir, p» 349*
f. Dcpcches dc Noailles, vol. iy. p. z$*
tation
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 417/481
MARY. 4P3
Nation of the virgin*. Difpatches were immediately ht c^
A1) '
to inform foreigncourts of this event : Orders were ifili d
_ ^lr
to give public thanks : Great rejoicings were made : Tne ijs4«
family of the young prince was already fettled b; for the
catholics held themfelves allured that the child was to be a
male: And Bonner, bifhop of London, made public
prayers be faid, that Heaven would pleafe to render him
beautiful, vigorous, and witty. But the nation frill re-
mained fomewhat incredulous ; and men were perfuaded,
that the queen laboured under infirmities, which rendered
her incapable of having children. Her infant proved only
the commencement of a dropfy, which the difordered
irate of her health had brought upon her. The belief,
however, of her pregnancy was upheld with all pof-
fible care; and was one artifice, by which Philip endea-voured to fupport his authority in the kin:dom. The .
parliament parted a law, which, in cafe of the queen's
demife, appointed him protector during the minority ; and
the king and queen, finding they could obtain no fur-
ther conceffions, came unexpectedly to Weftminfter, and
dilTolved them.
There happened an incident this fefllon, which muft j6th Jan.,.
not be palled over in filence. Several members of the
lower houfe, difTatisfied with the meafures of the parlia-
ment, but finding themfelves unable to prevent them,
made a feceffion, in order to mow their difapprobation,
and refufed any longer to attend the houfe c. For this
inftance of contumacy they were indicted in the King's-bench after the diffolution of parliament: Six of them
fubmitted to the mercy of the court, and paid their fines :
The reft traverfed ; and the queen died before the affair
was brought to an ifTue. Judging of the matter by the
fubfequent claims of the houfe of commons, and, indeed^
a Burnet, vol ii. p. 292. Godwin, p. 348. b Heylin, p, 46*« Coke's Jnfhtutes, part iv, p. 17. Strype's Memor. vol, i. p. 165.
Dd % b^
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 418/481
4.04 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A P.
by the ( ruc principles of free government, this attempt of
thequeen's
minifters muft beregarded
as a breach ofprivi-
l S55* lege; but it gave little umbrage at the time, and was
never called in queftion by any houfe of commons, which
afterwards fat during this reign. The count of Noailles,
the French ambafTador, fays, that the queen threw feveral
members into prifon for their freedom of fpeechd
.
d Vol. v,p. 296,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 419/481
MARY. 405
CHAP. XXXVII.
Reafons for and againft Toleration Perfections
A parliament The queer? s extortions • • <
The emperor rejigns his crown Execution of
Cranmer War with France Battle of St,
Quint in Calais taken by the French affairs
of Scotland Marriage of the Dauphin and the
queen of Scots —Aparliament —Death of the queen,
THEfuccefs, which Gardiner, from his cautious chap.
YY YVlTand
prudentconduct, had met with in
governing|
'
the parliament, and engaging them to concur both in the i i5S .
Spanifh match, and in the re-eftablifhment of the ancient
religion, two points to which, it was believed, they bore
an extreme averiion, had fo raifed his character for wif-
dom and policy, that his opinion was received as an
oracle in the council ; and his authority, as it was al-
ways great in his own party, no longer fuffered any op-
pofiticn or controul. Cardinal Pole himfelf, though more
beloved on account of his virtue and candour, and though
fuperior in birth and ftation, had not equal weight in
public deliberations j and while his learning, piety, and
humanity were extremely refpected, he was reprefented
more as a good man than a great minifter. A very im-portant queftion was frequently debated, before the queen
and council, by thefe two ecclefiaftics ; whether the laws
lately revived againft heretics (hould be put in execution,
or Ihould only be employed to reftrain, by terror, the bold
attempts of thefe zealots ? Pole was very fmcere in his
religious principles ; and though his moderation had made
him be fufpecfhd at Rome of a tendency towards Luther-
anifm, he was ferioufly perfuaded of the catholic declines,
D d 3 aad
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 420/481
4 c6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c H a P. and thouo-ht that no confideratton of human policy oushtXXXVII.
y pypr ro romp incompetition
with fuchimportant inte-
l S5S' refts. Gard ner, on the contrary, had always made his
religion fubfervient to his fchemes of fafety or advance-
ment ; and by his unlimited complaifance to Henry, he
had mown, that, had he not been pufhed to extremityunder the late minority, he was fufficiently difpofed to
make a facrifice of his principles to the eftabHmed theo-
logy. This was the well-known character of thefe two
great counfellors; yet fuch is the prevalence of temperabove fyftem, that the benevolent diipofition of Pole led
him to advife a toleration of the heretical tenets, which
he highly blamed ; while the fevere manners of Gardiner
inclined him to fupport, by perfecution, that religion,
which, at the bottom, he regarded with great indiffe-rence e
. This circumftance of public conduct, was of the
higheft importance ; and from being the object of deli-
beration in the council, it foon became the fubject of dif-
courfe throughout the nation. We (hall relate, in a few
words, the topics, by which each fide fupported, or mighthave fupported, their fcheme of policy ; and fhall difplaythe oppoiite reafons, which have been employed, with re-
gard to an argument that ever has been, and ever will be
fo much can vailed.
Reafons for The practice of perfecution, faid the defenders of
andagainft p i e'
s opinion, is the fcandal of all religion ; and the the-toleration.
ological animofity, fo fierce and violent, far from being
an argumentof men's conviction in their oppofite fects,
is a certain proof, that they have never reached any fe-
rious perfuafion with regard to thefe remote and fublime
fubjecls. Even thofe, who are the moft impatient of con-
tradiction in other controverfies, are mild and moderate
in comparifon of polemical divines ; and wherever a man's
knowledgeand
experience givehim a
perfectafiurance in
eHeylin, p, 47,
hi$
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 421/481
MARY. 4C7
his own opinion, he regards with contempt, rather than C H a p.A. A. A. V 1 1 »
anger, the oppofition and miftakes of others. But while <_ _^_«^men iealoufly maintain what they neither clearly com- , 55$«
prehend, nor entirely believe, they are fhaken in their
imagined faith, by the oppofite perfuafion, or even doubts
of other men ; and vent on their antagonifts that impa-
tience, which is the natural refult of fo difagreeable a
ftate of theunderftanding. They
theneafily
embrace
any pretence for reprefenting opponents as impious and
profane ; and if they can alfo find a colour for connec-
ting this violence with the interefts of civil government,
they can no longer be retrained from giving uncontroul-
ed fcope to vengeance and refentment. But furely never
enterprize was more unfortunate than that of found-
ing perfecution upon policy, or endeavouring, for the
fake of peace, to fettle an entire uniformity of opinion,
in queftions which, of all others, are leaftfubjec~r.ed to
the criterion of human reafon. The univerfal and un-
contradicted prevalence of one opinion in religious fub-
je&s, can be owing at firft to the ftupid ignorance alone
and barbarifm of the people, whonever
indulge them-felves in any fpeculation or enquiry ; and there is no
expedient for maintaining that uniformity, fo fond-
ly fought after, but by banifhing for ever all curio^
fity and all improvement in fcience and cultivation. It
may not, indeed, appear difficult to cheeky by a fteady
feverity, the firft beginnings of controverfy ; but befides
that this policy expofes for ever the people to all the ab-
ject terrors of fuperltition, and the magiftrate to the end-
lefs encroachments of ecclefiafticsj it alfo renders men Co
delicate, that they can never endure to hear of oppofU
tion ; and they will fome time pay dearly for that falfe
tranquillity, in which they have been fo long indulged.
As healthful bodies are ruined by too nice a regi-
#ien> and are thereby rendered incapable of bearing the
D d 4 unavoidable
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 422/481
4o8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, unavoidable incidents of human life : a people, who ne-
XXXVII.v .._ j ver were allowed to imagine, that their principles could
*555« be contefted, fly out into the moft outrageous violence,
when any event (and fuch events are common) produces
a faction among their clergy, and gives rife to any dif-
ference in tenet or opinion. But whatever maybe faid
in favour of fuppreiTing, by perfecution, the firfr begin-
nings of herefy, no folid argument can be alleged for
extending feveritytowards
multitudes,or
endeavouring,by capital punifhments, to extirpate an opinion, which
has difFufed itfelf among men of every rank and ftation.
Befides the extreme barbarity of fuch an attempt, it
commonly proves ineffectual to the purpofe intended ;
and ferves only to make men more obftinate in their per-
fuafion, and to encreafe the number of their profelytes.
The melancholy, with which the fear of death, torture,
and perfecution infpires the fe&aries, is the proper difpo-fition for foftering religious zeal : The profpecl: of eter-
nal rewards, when brought near, overpowers the dread
of temporal punifcments : The glory of martyrdom fti-
mulates all the more furious zealots, efpecially the lead-
ers and preachers : Where a violent animofity is excited
by opprellion, men naturally pafs, from hating the per-fons of their tyrants, to a more violent abhorrence of
their doctrines : And the fpeclators, moved with pitytowards the fuppofed martyrs, are eafily feduced to
embrace thofe principles, which can infpire men with a
conftancythat appears almoft
fupernatural. Openthe
door to toleration, mutual hatred relaxes among the
fectaries ;their attachment to their particular modes of
religion decays ; the common occupations and pleafures
of life fucceed to the acrimony of difputation ; and the
fame man, who, in other circumstances, would have
braved flames and tortures, is induced to change his fc<5t
from the fmalleft profpect of favour and advancement,
or
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 423/481
MARY. 409
: h a p.
XXXVII.r even from the frivolous hope of becoming more fa- c
fhionable in his principles. If any exception can beadmitted to this maxim of toleration, it will only be , 555«
where a theology altogether new, nowife connected with
the ancient religion of the ftate, is imported from foreign
countries, and may eafily, at one blow, be eradicated,
without leaving the feeds of future innovation. But
as this exception would imply fome apology for the an-
cient pagan perfecutions, or for the extirpation of Chri-
flianity in China and Japan ; it ought furely, on account
of this detefted confequence, to be rather buried in eter-
nal filence and oblivion.
Though thefe arguments appear entirely fatisfa£lory,
yet fuch is the fubtilty of human wit, that Gardiner, and
the other enemies to toleration, were not reduced to fi-
lence; and they frill found topics on which to maintain
the controverfy. The doctrine, faid they, of liberty of
confeience, is founded on the molt flagrant impiety, and
fuppofes fuch an indifference among all religions, fuch
an obfeurity in theological doctrines, as to render the
church and magiftrate incapable of diftinguifhing, with
certainty, the dictates of Heaven from the mere fictions
of human imagination. If the Divinity reveals prin-
ciples to mankind, he will furely give a criterion bywhich they may be afcertained ; and a prince, who know-
ingly allows thefe principles to be perverted or adulte-
rated, is infinitely more criminal than if he gave permif-
fion for the vending of poifon, under the fhape of food,to all his fubjecls. Perfecution may, indeed, feem bet-
ter calculated to make hypocrites than converts; but
experience teaches us, that the habits of hypecrify often
turn into reality ; and the children at lead, ignorant of the
diflimuiation of their parents, may happily be educated in
more orthodox tenets. It is abfurd, in oppofition to con-
fiderations of fuch unfpeakable importance, to plead the
temporal
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 424/481
4 io HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP- temporal and frivolous interefts of civil fociety ; and if
> *j matters be thoroughly examined, even that topic will not
'555' appear fo univerfally certain in favour of toleration as byfome it is reprefented. Where feels arife, whofe funda-
mental principle on all fides is to execrate, and abhor,
and damn, and extirpate each other ; what choice has
the magiftrate left but to take part, and by rendering one
feci entirely prevalent, reftore, at leaft for a time, the
public tranquillity? The political body, being here
fickly, muft not be treated as if it were in a ftate of
found health; and an afTecled neutrality in the prince,
or even a cool preference, may ferve only to encourage
the hopes of all the feels, and keep alive their animofity.The proteftants, far from tolerating the religion of their
anceftors,regard
it as animpious
and deteftableidolatry;
and during the late minority, when they were entirely
matters, they enacled very fevere, though not capital,
punishments againft all exercife of the catholic worfhip,
and even againft fuch as barely abftained from their pro-
fane rites and facraments. Nor are inftances wanting of
their endeavours to fecure an imagined orthodoxy by the
moft rigorous executions : Calvin has burned Servetus at
Geneva : Cranmer brought Arians and Anabaptifts to
the flake : [And if perfecution of any kind be admit-
ted, the moft bloody and violent will furely be allowed
the moft juftifiable,as the moft effectual. Imprifon-
ments, fines, confifcations, whippings, ferve only to irri-
tate the feels, without difabling them from refiftance :
But the ftake, the wheel, and the gibbet, muft foon ter-
minate in the extirpation or banifhment of all the here-
tics, inclined to give difturbance, and in the entire filence
and fubmiflion of the reft.
The arguments of Gardiner, being more agreeabltf
to the cruelbigotry
ofMary
and Philip, were better re-
ceived |
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 425/481
MARY. 4"
ceived ; and though Pole pleaded, as Is affirmed e, the c H A P.1 xxxvii.
advice of the emperor, who recommended it to hi«>v
'
daughter- in-law, not to exercife violence againft the pro-J S5S*
teftants, and defired her to confider his own example,
who, after endeavouring, through his whole life, to ex-
tirpate herefy, had, in the end, reaped nothing but con-
fuiion and difappointment, the fcheme of toleration was
entirely rejected. It was determinedto let
loofe the lawsin their full vigour againft the reformed religion ; and
England was foon fiiled with fcenes of horror, which
have ever fince rendered the catholic religion the object
of general deteftation, and which prove, that no human
depravity can equal revenge and cruelty, covered with
the mantle of religion.
The perfecutors began with Rogers, prebendary of VIoIent P er *r
. .fecutions i&
St Paul's, a man eminent in his party for virtue as well England,
as for learning. Gardiner's plan was firft to attack
men of that character, whom, he hoped, terror would
bend to fubmiflion, and whofe example, either of pu-nifhment or recantation, would naturally have influence
on the multitude : But he found a perfeverance andcourage in Rogers, which it may feem ftrange to find in
human nature, and of which all ages, and all feels, do>
neverthelefs furnifli many examples. Rogers, befide the
care of his own prefervation, lay under other powerful
temptations to compliance : He had a wife, whom he
tenderly loved, and ten children ; yet fuch was his fere-
nity after his condemnation, that the jailors, it is faid,
waked him from a found fleep, when the hour of his
execution approached. He had defired to fee his wife
before he died; but Gardiner told him, that he wasa prieft ; and could not poflibly have a wife; thus
e Burnet, vol. ii. Heylin, p. 47. It is not likely, however, that Charles
gave any fuch advice: For he himfelf was at this very time proceeding with
great violence in persecuting the rei'ormed in Flanders. Bentivoglio, part i.
lib. 1.
joining
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 426/481
4 i2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A P-joinino; infult to cruelty. Rogers was burnt in Smith-
- j held f.
J 55S- Hooper, bifhop of Glocefter, had been tried at the
fame time with Rogers ; but was fent to his own diocefe
to be executed. This circumftance was contrived to
flrike the greater terror into his flock ; but it was a
fource of confolation to Hooper, who rejoiced in giving
teftimony, by his death, to that doctrine, which he
had formerly preached among them. When he was tied
to the flake, a ftool was fet before him, and the queen's
pardon laid upon it, which it was ftill in his power to
merit by a recantation : But he ordered it to be removed ;
and cheerfully prepared himfelf for that dreadful punifh-
ment, to which he was fentenced. He fuffered it in
its fullfeverity
: The wind, which was violent, blew
the flame of the reeds from his body : The faggots
were green, and did not kindle eafily : All his lower
parts were confumed, before his vitals were attacked :
One of his hands dropped off: With the other he conti-
nued to beat his breafl : He was heard to pray and to
exhort the people ; till his tongue, fwoln with the vio-
lence of his agony, could no longer permit him utter-
ance. He was three quarters of an hour in torture,
which he bore with inflexible conflancy g.
Sanders was burned at Coventry : A pardon was
alfo offered him ; but he rejected it, and embraced the
flake, faying," Welcome the crofs of Chrifr. ; wel-
" come everlafling life." Taylor, parfon of Hadley,was puniihed by lire in that place, Cairo unded by his
ancient friends and parishioners. When tied to the
flake, he rehearfed a pfalm in Englifh : One of his
guards ftruck him on the mouth, and bade him fpeak
f F x; vol. Hi. p. 179. Burnet, vol. Ii. p. 302. Z Fox, vol. ili.
p. 145, &c. Buiast, vol. ii. p. 3CZ. Heylin, p. 48, 19, Godwin,
*• 349-
Latin :
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 427/481
MARY. 413
Latin : Another, in a rage, gave him a blow on the c H A p »
head with his halbert, which happily put an end to his v ,
v\
torments. '555*
There was one Philpot, archdeacon of Winchefter,
enflamed with fuch zeal for orthodoxy, that having been
engaged in difpute with an Arian, he fpit in' his adver-
fary's face, to (hew the great deteftation, which he had
entertained againft that herefy. He afterwards wrote a
treatife to juftify this unmannerly expreflion of zeal:
He faid, that he was led to it, in order to relieve the
forrow conceived from fuch horrid blafphemy, and to
fignify how unworthy fuch a mifcreant was of beingadmitted into the fociety of any Chriftian h
. Philpot
was a proteftant j and falling now into the hands of
people as zealous as himfelf, but more powerful, he was
condemned to the flames, and fuffered at Smithfield. It
feems to be almoft a general rule, that, in all religions
except the true, no man will fuffer martyrdom, who
would not alfo inflict it willingly on all that differ from
him. The fame zeal for fpeculative opinions is the caufe
of both.
The crime, for which almoft all the proteftants were
condemned, was, their refufal to acknowledge the real
prefence. Gardiner, who had vainly expected, that a
few examples would ftrike a terror into the reformers,
finding the work daily multiply upon him, devolved the
invidiousoffice
on others, chiefly on Bonner, a man ofprofligate manners, and of a brutal character, who feem-
ed to rejoice in the torments of the unhappy fufferers *.
He fometimes whipped the prifoners with his own hands,till he was tired with the violence of the exercife : Hetore out the beard of a weaver, who refufed to relinquifh
his religion ; and that he might give him a fpecimen of
*Strype, vol. iii, p. 261, and Co]l, N° 58.
*Heylin, p. 47, 4
1
?.
burning,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 428/481
4 i4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.v^v£tt
P ' b urmn g> ne held his hand t0 the candle, till the flnews
> * and veins lhrunk and burft k.
J 5SS' I T i s needlefs to be particular in enumerating all the
cruelties pra&ifed in England during the courfe of three
years that thefe perfecutions lafted : The favage barba-
rity on the one hand, and the patient conftancy on the
other, are fo fimilar in all thofe martyrdoms, that the
narrative, little agreeable in itfelf, would never be reliev-
ed by any variety. Human nature appears not, on anyoccafion, fo deteftable, and at the fame time fo abfurd,
as in thefe religious perfecutions, which fink men be-
low infernal fpirits in wickednefs, and below the beafts
in folly. A few inftances only may be worth pre-
ferving, in order, if poflible, to warn zealous bigots,
for ever to avoid fuch odious and fuch fruitlefs barba-
rity.
Ferrar, bifhop of St. David's, was burned in his
own diocefe ; and his appeal to cardinal Pole was not at-
tended to K Ridley, bifhop of London, and Latimer,
formerly bifhop of Worcefter, two prelates celebrated for
learning and virtue, perifhed together in the fame flames
at Oxford, and fupported each other's conftancy by their
mutual exhortations. Latimer, when tied to the ftake,
called to his companion," Be of good cheer, brother ;
" we fhall this day kindle fuch a torch in England, as,
65I truft in God, fhall never be extinguifhed.
,, The
executioners had been fo merciful (for that clemency may
more naturally be afcribed to them than to the religious
zealots) as to tie bags of gunpowder about thefe prelates,
in order to put a fpeedy period to thtir tortures : The
explofion immediately killed Latimer, who was in ex-
treme old age : Ridley continued alive during fome time
in the midft of the flames m.
k Fox, vol. iii. p. 187. 1 Ibid. p. 116. m Burnet, vol. ii«
f. 318. Heylin, p. 5*.
One;
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 429/481
MARY, 415
One Hunter, a young man of nineteen; an apprentice, chap.
having been feduced by a prieft into a difpute, had unwa-v v ^rily denied the real prefence. Senfible of his danger, he >55fr»
immediately abfconded ; but Bonner, laying hold of his
father, threatened him with the greateft feverities, if he
did not produce the young man to ftand his trial. Hun-
ter, hearing of the vexations to which his father was ex-
pofed, voluntarily furrendered himfelf to Bonner, and
was condemned to the flames by that barbarous prelate.
Thomas Haukes, when conducted to the ftake,
agreed with his friends, that, if he found the torture
tolerable, he would make them a fignal to that purpofe
in the midft of the flames. His zeal for the caufe, in
which he furrered, fo fupported him, that he ftretched
out his arms, the fignal agreed on ; and in that pofture
he expired K This example, with many others of like
confrancv, encouraged multitudes, not only to fufFer, but
even to court and afpire to martyrdom.The tender fex itfelf, as they have commonly greater
propenfity to religion, produced many examples of the
moft inflexiblecourage,
infupporting
theprofeflion
ot
it, againft all the fury of the perfecutors. One execu-
tion in particular was attended with circum fiances,
which, even at that time, excited aflonifhment, by rea-
fon of their unufual barbarity. A woman in Guernfey,"being near the time of her labour when brought to the
flake, was thrown into fuch agitation by the torture,
that her belly burft, and fhe was delivered in the midft
of the flames. One of the guards immediately fnatched
the infant from the fire, and attempted to fave it : But a
magiftrate, who flood by, ordered it to be thrown back;
being determined, he faid, that nothing fhould furvive
which fprang from fo obftinate and heretical a parentm
,
1 Fox, vol. Hi. p. 265. r Ihld, p, 747. Heylin, p, 57, Bur-
cet, vol, li, p. 337,
The
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 430/481
416 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap. The perfons condemned to thefe punifhments wereXXXVII.
. not convicted of teaching, or
dogmatizing, contraryto the
J 5S5' eftablilhed religion : They were feized merely on fufpi-
cion ; and articles being offered them to fubfcribe, theywere immediately, upon their refufal, condemned to the
flames n. Thefe inftances of barbarity, fo unufual in the
nation, excited horror ; the conftancy of the martyrs was
the object of admiration ; and as men have a principle of
equity engraven in their minds, which even falfe reli-
gion is not able totally to obliterate, they were (hocked
to fee perfons of probity, of honour, of pious difpofi-
tions, expofed to punishments more fevere than were in-
flicted on the greater!: ruffians, for crimes fubverfive of
civil fociety. To exterminate the whole proteflant party,
was known to be impoffible ; and nothing could appearmore iniquitous, than to fubject to torture the moft con-
fcientious and courageous among them, and allow the
cowards and hypocrites to efcape. Each martyrdom,
therefore, was equivalent to a hundred fermons againfi:
popery ; and men either avoided fuch horrid fpectacles,
or returned from them full of a violent,though fecret,
indignation againft the perfecutors. Repeated orders were
fent from the council to quicken the diligence of the
magiftrates in fearching out heretics; and, in fome places,
the gentry were constrained to countenance, by their pre-
fence, thofe barbarous executions. Thefe acts of vio-
lence tended only to render the Spanifh government daily
more odious; and Philip, fenfible of the hatred which
he incurred, endeavoured to remove the reproach from
himfelf by a very grofs artifice : He ordered his confefTor
to deliver in his prefence a fermon in favour of toleration ;
a doctrine fomewhat extraordinary in the mouth of a Spa-
nifh friar . But the court, finding that Bonner, how-
ever fhamelefs and favage, would not bear alone the whole
n Burnet, vol. ti, . y £. •Hey'In, p. 56.
7 infamy 5
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 431/481
MARY* 417
infamy* foon threw off the mafk; and the unrelenting hap.Jy & XXXVII.
temper of the queen, as well as of the king, appearedwithout controul. A bold ftcp was even taken towards j S5j-
introducing the inquifition into England. As the bifliops*
courts, though extremely arbitrary, and not confined by
any ordinary forms of law, appeared not to be invefted
with fufHcient power, a commitfion was appointed, by-
authority of the queen's prerogative, more effectually to
extirpate herefy. Twenty-one perfons were named ; but
any three were armed with the powers of the whole.
The commiflion runs in thefe terms ;" That fince many
" falfe rumours were published among the fubjects, and"
many heretical opinions were alfo fpread among them," the commifiioners were to enquire into thofe, either bytc prefentments, by witnelles, or any other political wav"
they could devife, and to fearch after all herefies ; the"
bringers in, the fellers, the readers of all heretical
" books : They were to examine and punifh all mifbe-" haviours or negligences, in any church or chapel 5
" and to try all prieih that did not preach the facrament" of the altar; all perfons that did not hear
mafs,or
come to their parifh church to fervice, that would not
go in procefiions, or did not take holy bread or holywater: And if they found any that did obftinately
cc
cc
cc
k *perfift in fuch herefies, they were to put them into the
cc
ice
hands of their ordinaries, to be punifhed according to
the fpiritual laws : Giving the commifiioners full powerkc to proceed, as their difcretions and confeiences mould** direct them, and to ufe all fuch means as they would* c invent for the fearching of the premifes ; empowering" them alfo to call before them fuch witneffes as they* c
pleafed, and to force them to make oath of fuch things** as might difcover what they fought after i\" Some
P Burnet, vol. ii. Coll. 3a,
Vou IV. E e civil
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 432/481
4 i8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C H A P. civil powers were alfo given the commiflioners to punifhXXXVI', .
'j vagabonds and quarrelfome perfons.
J 55> To bring the methods of proceeding in England (till
nearer to the practice of the inquifition, letters were
written to lord North, and others, enjoining them," To
"put to the torture fuch obftinate perfons as would
<c not confcfs, and there to order them at their difcre-
" tion ?." Secret fpies alfo, and informers, were em-
ployed, according to the practice of that iniquitous tri-
bunal. Inftru&ions were given to the juftices of peace,
" That they (hould call fecretiy before them one or two
" honeft perfons within their limits, or more, at their
"difcretion, and command them by oath, or otherwife,
" that they (hall fecretiy learn and fearch out fuch per-
" fons as (hall evil-behave themfelves in church, or
"idly, or (hall defpife openly by words, the king's or
"queen's proceedings, or go about to make any com-
" motion, or tell any feditious tales or news. And<< alfo that the fame perfons fo to be appointed, (hall
" declare to the fame jufKces of peace, the ill behaviour
" of lewd difordered perfons, whether it (hall be for ufmg•« unlawful games, and fuch other light behaviour of
« fuch fufpe&ed perfons : And that the fame informa-
" tion (hall be given fecretiy to the juftices -,and the
« fame juftices(hall call fuch accufed perfons before
" them, and examine them, without declaring by whom"
they were accufed. And that the fame juftices (hall,
" upon their examination, punifli the offenders, accord-ed ing as their ofFences (hall appear, upon the accufement
" and examination, by their difcretion, either by open"
punishment or by good abearingr ." In fome refpecls,
this tyrannicaledict even exceeded the oppreffion of the
inquifition ; by introducing into ever) part of govern-
ment,the fame iniquities, which that tribunal praclifes
q Burnet, vol. iii. p. 243.r Ibid. p. 246, 247.
for
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 433/481
M A R Y. 419
For the extirpation of herefy only, and which are, in c H -A P.
fome meafurc, neceflary, wherever that end is earnellly j
purfued.l SSS*
But the court had devifed a more expeditious and
fummary method of fupporting orthodoxy than even the
inquifition itfelf. They iflued a proclamation againft books
of herefy, treafon, and fedkion ; and declared," That
"whofoever had any
of thefebooks, and did not prefently" burn them, without reading them, or fhewing them
iC to any other perfon, fhould be efteemed rebels ; andcc without any farther delay, be executed by martial
" law s ." From the ftate of the Englifh government,
during that period, it is not fo much theillegality of
thefe proceedings, as their violence and their pernicious
tendency, which ought to be the objecT: of our cenfure.
We have thrown together almoft all the proceedings
againft heretics, though carried on during a courfe of
three years ; that v/e may be obliged, as little as poftible,
to return to fuch mocking violences and barbarities. It
is computed, that in that time two hundred and feventy-
feven perfons were brought to the ftake ; befidcs thofe
who were punimed by imprifonment, fines, and confif-
cations. Among thole who fuffered by fire, were five
bifhops, twenty-one clergymen, eight lay gentlemen,
eighty-four tradefmen, one hundred hufbandmen, fer-
vants, and labourers, fifty-five women, and four chil-
dren. This perfevering cruelty appears aftonifhingj yetis it much inferior to what has been pra&ifed in other
countries. A great author l
computes, that, in the Ne-
therlands alone, from the time that the edict of Charles
V. was promulgated againft the reformers, there had
been fifty thoufand perfons hanged, beheaded, buried
alive, or burnt, on account of religion ; and that in
France the number had alfo been confiderable. Yet in
* Burner, vol. ii. p, 363. Hfylin, p. 79.l Father Pau', lite 5.
E e 2 both
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 434/481
420 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CJ2Jt,Z' b° tn countries, as the fame author fubjoins, the progrefsXXXVI!. % m • n .
> nfthe new opinions, in (read of being checked, was ra-
1S 55- ther forwarded by thefe perfecutions.
The burning of heretics was a very natural method of
reconciling the kingdom to the Romifti communion j and
little felicitation was requifite to engage the pope to re-
ceive the flrayed flock, from which he reaped fuch confi-
derable profit : Yet was there a folemn embafTy fent to
Rome, confiding of Sir Anthony Brown, created vif-
count Montacute, the bifhop of Ely, and Sir EdwardCarne ; in order to carry the fubmifficns of England,and beg to be re-admitted into the bofom of the catholic
church u. Paul IV. after a fhort interval, now filled the
papal chair ;the moil haughty pontiff that during fe-
veral ages had been elevated to that dignity. Fie was
offended, that Mary ftill retained among her tides, that
of queen of Ireland ; and he affirmed, that it belonged to
him alone, as he faw caufe, either to erect new king-
doms or abolifh the old : But to avoid all difpute with the
new converts, he thought proper to creel: Ireland into a
kingdom, andhe then admitted the
title,as if it
hadbeen affumed from his conceflion. This was a ufual ar-
tifice of the popes, to give allowance to what they could
not preventw
, and afterwards pretend, that princes, while
they exercifed their own powers, were only acting by au-
thority from the papacy. And though Paul had at firft
intended to oblige Mary formally to recede from this title,
before he would beftow it upon her ; he found it prudent
to proceed in a lefs haughty manner x.
Another point in difcuflion between the pope and
the Englifh ambafiadors was not fo eafily terminated.
Paul infilled, that the property and poffeffions of the church
fhould be reflored to the uttermoft farthing : That what-
« Heylin, p. 45. w Ibid. Father Paul, lib. 5.
* Faiher Paul, lib, 5,
ever
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 435/481
MARY. 421
ever belonged to God could never by any law be con- c h a P.XXXV II
verted to profane ufes, and every perfon who detained fuch L ^ Jj
poiTefftons was in a ftate of eternal damnation : That he ?555«
would willingly, in confideration of the humble fubmif-
fions of the Englifh, make them a prefent of thefe ecclefiaf-
tical revenues ; but fuch a conce^ion exceeded his power,and the people might be certain that fo great a profanation
ofholy
things would be a perpetual anathema upon them,
and would blaft all their future felicity : That if they
would truly (hew their filial piety, they muft reftore ali
the privileges and emoluments of" the Romifh church, and
Peter's pence among the reft \ nor could they expeiSr, that
this apoille would open to them the gates of paradife,
while they detained from him his patrimony on earth*",
Thefe earned remonftrances, being tranfmitted to En^-
land, though they had little influence on the nation, ope-
rated powerfully on the queen j who was determined, in
order to eafe her confeience, to reitore all the church
lands which were (till in the pofTeffion of the crown : Andthe more to difplay her zeal, flie erected anew fome con-
vents and monafteries, notwithstanding the low conditionof the exchequer
7\ When this meafure was debated in
council, fome members objected, that, if fuch a consi-
derable part of the revenue were difmembered, the dignityof the crown would fall to decay : but the queen replied,
that fhe preferred the falvation of her foul to ten fuch
kingdomsas
England
a. Thefe
imprudentmeafures
would not probably have taken place fo eafilv, had it net
been for the death of Gardiner, which happened about
this time : The great feal was given to Heathe, arch-
bifhop of York ;that an ecclefiaftic might frill be pof->
(eiTed of that high oiHce, and be better enabled by hig
y Father Paul; lib. 5. Heylin, p. 4.5.z
Depeches de Noailles„
vol. iv. p. 31a. a Heylin, p. 53. 65. Hollingflied, p. 1127,
Speed, p. Sa6.
Je ^ authority
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 436/481
A22 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap, authority to forward the perfecutions againft the re-
XXX" II. r .
J
v _ . formed.
t 5 5 5 - These perfecutions were now become extremely odi-
a parha-
'
ous to the nation ; and the effects of the public difcon-
Inent '
tent appeared in- the new parliament, fummoned to meet
at Weftminfterb
. A billc was palled, reftoring to the
church the tenths and firft-fruits, and all the impropria-
tions which remained in the hands of the crown ; but
though this matter directly concerned none but the queen
herfelf, great oppofition was made to the bill in the houfe
cf commons. An application being made for a fubfidy
during two years, and for two fifteenths, the latter was
reiufed by the commons ; and many members faid, that,
while the crown was thus deipoiling itfelf of its revenue,
it was in vain to beftow richesupon
it. Theparlia-
ment rejected a bill for obliging the exiles to return under
certain penalties, and another for incapacitating fuch as
were remifs in the profecution of herefy from being ju-ftices of peace. The queen, finding the intractable hu-
Dec mour of the commons, thought proper to diffolve the
parliament.
The fpirit of oppofition, which began to prevail irn
parliament, was the more likely to be vexatious to Mary,as fhe was otherwife in very bad humour, on account of
her hufband's abfence, who, tired of her importunate
love and jealoufy, and finding his authority extremely
limited in England, had laid hold of the firft opportunity
to leave her, and had gone over laft fummer to the em-peror in Flanders. The indifference and neglect of Phi-
lip, added to the difappointment in her imagined preg-
% nancy, threw her into deep melancholy ; and fhe gave
vent to her fpleen by daily enforcing the perfecutions
agait.ft the proteftants, and even by expretfions of rage
againftall her fubjectsj
bywhom (he knew herfelf to be
b Burnet, vo), ii. p. 322,.c 2 and 3 Phil, and Mar. cap, 4.
hated 3
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 437/481
M A R Y. 423
hated, and whofe oppofition, in refilling an entire com- c TI A P.
pliancc with Philip, was the caufe, the believed, why he v/
had alienated his affections from her, and afforded her fo x 555«
little of his companyd
. The lefs return her love met
with, the more it increafed ; and {he paffed moil of her
time in folitude, where fhe gave vent to her paffion, ei-
ther in tears, or in writing fond epiftlcs to Philip, who
feldom returned herany
anfvver, andfcarcely deigned
to
pretend any fentiment of love or even of gratitude to-
wards her. The chief part of government, to which ftie^,,
attended, was the extorting of money from her people, extortions.
in order to fatisfy his demands ; and as the parliament
had granted her but a fcanty fupply, fhe had recourfe to
expedients very violent and irregular. She levied a loan
of 60,000 pounds upon a thoufand perfons, of whofe
compliance, either on account of their riches or their af-
fections to her, fhe held herfeif beft adored : But that
fum not fufHcing, fhe exadted a general loan on every
one who pofTeiTed twenty pounds a-year. This impofi-
tion lay heavy on the gentry, who were obliged, many
of them to retrench their expences, and difmifs their
fervants in order to enable them to comply with her de-
mands : And as thefe fervants, accuftomed to idlenefs,
and having no means of fubfiftance, commonly betook
themfelves to theft and robbery, the queen publifhed a
proclamation, by which fhe obliged- their former maflers
to take them back to their fervice. She levied 60, coo
marks on 7000 yeomen, who had not contributed to the
former loan ; and fhe exacted 36,000 pounds more from
the merchants. In order to engage fome Londoners to
comply more willingly with her multiplied extortions,
fhe paffed an edict, prohibiting, for four months, the ex-
porting of any Englifh cloths or kerfeys to the Netherlands;
an expedient which procured a good market for fuch
d Depeches de Noailles, vol. v, p. 370. 5C2,
E e 4 as
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 438/481
424 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP. as had already fent any quantity of cloth thither. Her ra-
» pacioufnefs engaged her to give endlefs difturbanee and
>5SS« interruption to commerce. The Englifh company fettled
in Antwerp having refufed her a loan of 40,000 pounds,fhe diffcmbled her refentment, till (he found, that theyhad bought and fhipped great quantities of cloth for Ant-
werp fair, which was approaching: She then laid an
embargo on the fhips, and obliged the merchants to grant
her a loan of the 40,000 pounds at firft demanded, to en-
gage for the payment of 20,oco pounds more at a limited
time, and to fubmit to an arbitrary impofition of twenty
{hillings on each piece. Some time, after (he was inform-
ed, that the Italian merchants had fhipped above 40,000pieces of cloth for the Levant, for which they were to
pay her a crown a piece, the ufual impofition : Sheftruck a bargain with the merchant adventurers in Lon-don ; prohibited the foreigners from making any expor-tation
; and received from theEnglifh merchants, in con-
federation of this iniquity, the fum of 50,000 pounds,and an impofition of lour crowns on each piece of cloth
which they fhould export. She attempted to borrow
great fums abroad ; but her credit was fo low, that, thos
flic offered 14 per cent, to the city of Antwerp for a loan
of 30,000 pounds, fhe could net obtain it, till fhe com-
pelled the city of London to be furety for her c. All
thefe violent expedients were employed, while fhe herfelf
was in profound peace with all the world, and had vifi-
bly no occafion for money but to fupply the demands ofa hufoand, who gave attention only to his own conve-
nience, and ihowed himfelf entirely indifferent about her
interefts.
The empe- Philip was now become matter of all the wealth of theror rengm n ^ w WOi jj anc [ f t h e r j c h e ft an( j mo ft extenfive domi-hii crow J*.
"
c Godwin, p. 3^9. Cowper's Chronicle. Burnet, vol. ii. p. 359*Carte, p. 330. 333-337» 34 f » btrype's Memor. vol, iii. p. 428, 558,
Annals, vol. i, p. 15,
nions
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 439/481
MARY. 425
nions in Europe, by the voluntary refignation of the em- C H a p.
peror, Charles V. ; who, though -frill in the vigour of his s
^ j
a^e, had taken a difgufr. to the world, and was determined J555-
to feek, in the tranquillity of retreat, for that happinefs,
which he had in vain purfued, amidir. the tumults of war,
and the reftlefs projects of ambition. He fummoned the . „
ftates of the Low Countries ;and feating himfelf on the
thronefor the lafr.
time, explainedto his
fubjectsthe rea-
foiic of his renVnation, abfolved them from all oaths of
allegiance, and devolving his authority on Philip, told
him, that his paternal tendernefs made him weep, when
he reflected on the burchen which he impofed upon him d.
He inculcated on him the great and only duty of a prince,
the fludy of his people's happinefs ; and reprefented how
much preferable it was to govern, by affection rather than
by fear, the nations fubjedted to his dominion. The cool
reflections of age now difcovered to him the emptinefs of
his former purfuits ; and he found, that the vain fchemes
of extending his empire, had been the fource of endlefs op-
pofition and difappointment, and kept himfelf, his neigh-
bours, and his fubjects, in perpetual inquietude, and hadfruftrated the fole end of government, the felicity of the
nations committed to his care ; an object which meets
with lefs oppofition, and which, iffteadily purfued, can
alone convey a lading and folid Satisfaction.
A few months after, he refio-ned to Philip his other . .,
dominions ; and embarking on board a fleet, failed to
Spain, and took his journey to St. Juft, a monaftery in
Eftremadura, which, being fituated in a happy climate,
and amidlt the greater! beauties of nature, he had chofen
for the place of his retreat. When he arrived at Burgos,he found, by the thinnefs of his court, and the negligent
attendance of the Spanifli grandees, that he was no longer
* Thuan. lib. xvi, c. ao»
emperor;
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 440/481
426 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, emperor : and though this obfervation mig-ht convincexxyvn.
'j him frill more of thevanity
of theworld,
and make him
*55 6, more heartily defpife what he had renounced, he fighed
to find that all former adulation and obeifance had been
paid to his fortune, not to his perfon. With better rea-
fon, was he ftruck with the ingratitude of his fon Philip,
who obliged him to wait a long time for the payment of
the fmall penfion which he had refer ved ; and this dif-
appointment in his dome/tic enjoyments gave him a fen-
fible concern. He purfued however his refolution with
inflexible conftancy; and (hutting himfelf up in his re-
treat, he exerted fuch fclf-command, that he reft rained
even his curiofity from any enquiry concerning the trans-
actions of the world, which he had entirely abandoned.
The fencing againitthe
pains and infirmities, underwhich he laboured, occupied a great part of his tirhe ;
and during the intervals, he employed his leifure either in
examining; the controversies of theology, with which his
agre had been fo much agitated, and which he had hitherto
confidered only in a political light, or in imitating the
works of renowned artifts, particularly in mechanics, of
which he had always been a great admirer and encourager.
He is faid to have here difcovered a propenfity to the new
doctrines ; and to have frequently dropped hints of this
unexpected alteration in his fentiments. Having amufed
himfelf with the construction of clocks and watches, he
thence remarked how impracticable the object was, in
which he had fo much employed himfelf during his gran-
deur; and how impoflible, that he, who never could frame
two machines that would go exactly alike, could ever be
able to make all mankind concur in the fame belief and
opinion. He furvived his retreat two years.
The emperor Charles had very early, in the beginning
of his reign, found the difficulty of governing fuch dif-
tant dominions j and he had made his brother Ferdinand
be
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 441/481
M A R Y. 427
be elected kins; of the Romans ; with a view to his in- c H A p .
heriting the Imperial dignity, as well as his German do- C'- „- _j
minions. But having afterwards enlarged his fchemes,I SS 6 *
and formed plans of aggrandizing his family, he regretted,
that he mull difmember fuch confidcrable ftates; and he
endeavoured to engage Ferdinand, by the moil tempting
offers, and moil earneft felicitations, to yield up his pre-
tentions in favour ofPhilip. Finding
hisattempts
fruit-
lefs, he had refigned the Imperial crown with his other dig-
nities; and Ferdinand, according to common form, applied
to the pope for his coronation. The arrogant pontiff re-
fufed the demand ; and pretended, that, though, on the
death of an emperor, he was obliged to crown the prince
elected, yet in the cafe of a refignation, the right devolved
to the holy fee, and it belonged to the pope alone to ap-
point an emperor. The conduct of Paul was in every
thing conformable to thefe lofty pretentions. He thun-
dered always in the ears of all ambaffadors, that he flood
in no need of the afliftance of any prince, that he was
above all potentates of the earth, that he would not ac-
cuftom monarchs to pretend to a familiarity or equalitywith him, that it belonged to him to alter and regulate
kingdoms, that he was fucceffor of thofe who had denoted
kings and emperors, and that rather than fubmit to any-
thing below his dignity, he would fet fire to the four
corners of the world. He went fo far, as, at table, in
the prefence of many perfons, and even openly, in a pub-lic confiftory, to fay, that he would not admit anv kincrs
for his companions ; they were all his fuhjecis, and he
would hold them under thefe feet : So faying, he (lamp-ed on the ground with his old and infirm limbs : For he
was now pafl fourfcore years of agee
.
The world could not forbear making a comparifon
between Charles V. a prince, who, though educatedamidft wars and intrigues of Hate, had prevented the de-
e Father Paul, lib. v.
cline
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 442/481
4 i8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c v A P. clineof age, and had defcended from the throne, in orderXXXVII
!_ ^._ iw Jto fet
apartan interval for
thoughtand
reflection, and a»55 6 -
prieft, who, in the extremity of old age, exulted in his
dominion, and from reitlefs ambition and revenue was
throwing all nations into combuftion. Paul had enter-
tained the moil inveterate animofity againir. the houfe of
Auflria ; and though a truce of five years had been con-
cluded between France and Spain, he excited Henry byhis felicitations to break it, and promifed to aflift him in
recovering Naples, and the dominion* to which he laid
claim in Italy; a project which had ever proved hurtful
to the predeceffors of that monarch. He himfelf engage'd
in hoftilities with the duke of Alva, viceroy of Naples;
and Guife being fent with forces to fupport him, the re-
newal of war between the two crowns feemed almoft ine-
vitable. Philip, though lefs warlike than his father, was
no lefs ambitious ; and he trufted, that, by the intrigues
of the cabinet, where, he believed, his caution and fe-
crecy and prudence gave him the fuperiority, he fhouM
be able to fubdue all his enemies, and extend his autho-
rityand dominion. For this
reafon,as well as from the
deffire of fettling his new empire, he wifhed to maintain
peace with France; but when he found, that, without
facrificing his honour, it was impoilible for him to over-
look the hoftile attempts of Henry, he prepared for war
with great induflry. In order to give himfelf the more
advantage, he was defirous of embarking England in the
quarrel ; and though the queen was of herfelf extremelyaverfe to that meafure, he hoped, that the devoted fondnefs,
which, notwithstanding repeated initances of his indiffe-
rence, fhe Hill bore to him, would effectually fecond his
applications. Had the matter indeed depended folely on
her, fhe was incapable of refilling her hufband's commands ;
but {he had little weight with her council, ftill lefs withher people; and her government, which was every day
becoming
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 443/481
M A R Y. 429
becoming more odious, fcemed unable to maintain itfelfC Ha P.
§
XXXVIJ,
even during the mod profound tranquillity, much more \
v .. „ *
if a war were kindled with France, and what feerned an 'SS 6 *
inevitable confequence, with Scotland, fupported by that
powerful kingdom.An act of barbarity was this year exercifcd in Eng- Execution of
Jand, which, added to many other inftances of the fame
kind, tended to render the government extremely unpo-pular. Cranmer had long been detained prifoner ; but
the queen now determined to bring him to punifhment ;
and in order the more fully to fatiate her vengeance, (he
refolved to punifh him for herefy, rather than for treafon.
He was cited by the pope to (land his trial at Rome ;
and though he was known to be kept in ciofe cuftody at
Oxford, he was, upon his not appearing, condemned as
contumacious. Bonner, bifnop of London, and Thirle-
by of Ely were fent to degrade him ; and the former exe-
cuted the melancholy ceremony with all the joy and
exultation, which fuited his favage nature f. The im-
placable fpirit of the queen, not fatisfied with the eter-
nal damnation of Cranmer, which ihe believed inevitable,
and with the execution of that dreadful fentence, to
which he was condemned, prompted her alio to feek the
ruin of his honour, and the infamy of his name. Per-
sons were employed to attack him, not in the way of
difputation, againft which he was fuiHciently armed 5
butby flattery,
infinuation, and addrefs ;
by reprefentingthe dignities to which his character ftill entitled him, if
he would merit them by a recantation ; by giving hopes
of long enjoying thofe powerful friends, whom his benefi-
cent difpofition had attached to him during the courfe of
his profperity s. Overcome by the fond love of life, ter-
rified by the profpecl: of thofe tortures which awaited
him \ he allowed, in an unguarded hour, the fenti-
f Mem. of Cr2nm. p. 375. ? Heylin, p. 55, Mem, p. 38].
J ments
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 444/481
430 HISTORY OF ENGL AN D.
c H A P. merits of nature to prevail over his refolution, and he
t
"
'i
agreedto fubfcribe the doctrines of the
papal fupremacyiS5 6 - and of the real prefeiice. The court, equally perfidious
and cruel, were determined, that this recantation fhould
avail him nothing ; and they fent orders, that he mouldbe required to acknowledge his errors in church before
the whole people, and that he fhould thence be imme-2lftMarch -
diately carried to execution. Cranmer, whether that he
hsd received a fecrtt intimation of their defign, or had
repented of his weaknefs, furprized the audience by a
contrary declaration. He faid, that he was well apprized
of the obedience which he owed to his fovereip-n and the
laws ; but this duty extended no farther than to fubmit
patiently to their commands, and to bear without reiift-
ance whatever hardships they fhould impofe upon him :
That a fuperior duty, the duty which he owed to his
Maker, obliged him to fpeak truth on all occafions, and
not to relinquish, by a bale denial, the holy doctrine,
which the fupreirie Being had revealed to mankind:
That there was one mifcarriage in his life, of which,
above all others, he fevereiy repented ; the infincere
declaration of faith, to which he had the weaknefs to
confent, and which the fear of death alone had extorted
from him : That he took this opportunity of atoning for
his error, by a fincere and open recantation ; and was
willing to feal with his blood that doctrine, which he
firmlv believed to be communicated from Heaven : And
that as his hand had erred by betraying his heart, it
fhould fir ft be punifhed, by a fevere but juft doom, and
fhould fir ft pay the forfeit of its offences. He was thence
led to the flake amiuft the infults of the catholics ; and
having now fummoned up all the force of his mind;,
he bore their fcorn, as well as the torture of his punifh-
ment, with fingular fortitude. He ftretched out his
hand, and without betraying, either by his countenance
or
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 445/481
MARY. 431
or motions, the leafl fign of weaknefs or even of feeling, £"£,?•. . . ,
xxxvii.
he held it in the flames, till it was entirely confumed. v_ Nr —'
His thoughts feemed wholly occupied with reflections on x 55^
his former fault; and he called aloud feveral times, This
hand has offended. Satisfied with that atonement, he then
difcovered a ferenity in his countenance ; and when the
fire attacked his body, he feemed to be quite infenfible of
his outwardfufTerings,
and by the force of hope and re-
folution to have collected his mind altoo-ether within it-
felf, and to repel the fury of the flames. It is pretended,
that, after his body was confumed, his heart was found
entire and untouched amidft the allies ; an event, which,as it was the emblem of his conftancy, was fondly be-
lieved by the zealous proteftants. He was undoubtedly
a man of merit ; pofTeiTed of learning and capacity,
and adorned with candour, fincerity, and beneficence,
and all thofe virtues, which were fitted to render him
ufeful and amiable in fociety. His moral qualities pro-
cured him univerfal refpecT: ; and the courage of his
martyrdom, though he fell fhort of the rigid inflexibility
obfervedin
many,made him the hero of the
proteftantparty
fa.
After Cranmer's death, cardinal Pole, who had nowtaken priefl's orders, was inflalled in the fee of Canter-
bury; and was thus by this office, as well as by his
commiflion of legate, placed at the head of the church
of England. But though he was avecfe to all fangui-
nary methods of converting heretics, and deemed the
reformation of the clergy the more effectual, as the more
laudable expedient for that purpofe'
l
; he found his au-
thority too weak to oppofe the barbarous and bigotted
difpofition of the queen and of her counfellors. He him-
felf, he knew, had been fufpe&ed of Lutheran ifm ; and
h Burnet, vol. ii. p. 331, 332, &c. Godwin, p, 35a.* Burnet,
vol. ii. p. 324, 325.
4 as
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 446/481
43 2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.c H A P. a S Paul, the reigning pope, was a furious perfeeutorXXXVII.
t '; and his perfonal enemy, he was prompted,by
the mo-i55 6 . defty of his difpofition, to referve his credit for other
occafions, in which he had a greater probability of
fuccefs k.
1557. The great object of the queen was to engage the na-
tion in the war, which was kindled between France and
Spain ; and cardinal Pole, with many other counfellors,
openly and zealoufly oppofed this meafure. Befides in-
flating on the marriage articles, which provided againft
fuch an attempt, they reprefented the violence of the do-
meftic factions in England, and the difordered ftate of
the finances ; and they foreboded, that the tendency of
all thefe meafures was to reduce thekingdom
to a total
dependance on Spanifh counfels. Philip had come to
London in order to fupport his partizans ; and he told
the queen, that, if he were not gratified in fo reafonable
a requeff, he never more would fet foot in England.This declaration extremely heightened her zeal for pro-
moting his interefts, and overcoming theinflexibility of
her council. After employing other menaces of a more
violent nature, fhe threatened to difmifs all of them, and
to appoint counfellors more obfequious ; yet could fhe
not procure a vote for declaring war with France. At
length, one Stafford and fome other confpirators were de-
tected in a defign of furprizing Scarboroughl
; and a
confefllon being extorted from them, that they had been
encouraged by Henry in the attempt, the queen's im-
portunity prevailed ; and it was determined to make this
act of hoftility, with others of a like fecret and doubt-
ful nature, the ground of the quarrel. War was accord-
k Heylin, p. 68, 69. Burnet, vol. ii. p. 327.1
Heylin, p. 7« c
Burnet, vol, ii, p, 35I, Sir James Melvil's Memoirs,
ingljr
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 447/481
MAR Y. 433
ingly declared againfl France; and preparations were C^H
a p.
every where made for attacking that kingdom. v j
The revenue of England at that time little exceeded '557«
300,000 pounds m . Any confiderable fupplies could
fcarcely be expected from parliament, confidering the
prefent difpofition of the nation ; and as the war would
fenfibly diminifh that branch arifing from the cuftoms, the
finances, it was forefeen, would fall fhort even of the ordi-
nary charges of government; and muft frill more prove un-
equal to the expences of war. But though the queen owed
great arrears to all her fervants, befides the loans extorted
from her fubjects, thefe confiderations had no influence
with her ; and in order to fupport her warlike preparations,
fhe continued to levy money in the fame arbitrary and
violent manner which fhe had formerly pra£tifed. She
obliged the city of London to fupply her with 60,000
pounds on her hufband's entry ; flie levied before the le-
gal time the fecond year's fubfidy voted by parliament ;
fhe iiTued anew many privy feals, by which fhe procuredloans from her people ; and having equipped a fleet,
which fhe could not victual by reafen of the dearnefs ofprovifions, (he feized all the corn (he could find in Suf-
folk and Norfolk, without paying any price to the own-ers. By all thefe expedients, a (lifted by the power of
preffing, fhe levied an army of ten thoufand men, which
fhe fent over to the Low-Countries, under the commandof the earl of Pembroke. Meanwhile, in order to pre-
vent any difturbance at home, many of the mofl confi-
derable gentry were thrown into the Tower ; and left
they fhould be known, the Spanifh practice was follow-
ed : They either were carried thither in the night time,
or were hoodwinked and muiHed by the guards who con-
ducted them n.
m Rofii, Succefn d'lnghilterra* n Strype's Ecclef. Memorials,vol. iii. p. 377.
Vcl. IV. F f The
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 448/481
43+ HISTORY OF ENGLAND.cv
"JJ' The king of Spain had aflembled an army, which,
"j after the junction of the Englifh, amounted to above
1557* fixty thoufand men, conducted by Philibert, duke of
Savoy, one of the greateft captains of the age. Theconftable, Montmorency, who commanded the French
army, had not half the number to oppofe to him. Theduke or Savoy, after menacing Mariembourgh and Ro-
croy, fuddenly fat down before St. Quintin ; and as the
place was weak, andill
provided with a garrifon, he ex-pected in a few days to become mafter of it. But admi-
ral Coligny, governor of the province, thinking his ho-
nour interefted to fave fo important a fortrefs, threw
himfelf into St, Quintin, with fome troops of French
and Scottifh genfdarmery ; and by his exhortations and
example animated the foldiers to a vigorous defence. He
difpatched a meflenger to his uncle, Montmorency, defiring10th Aug. a f U pp]y f men . an d the conftable approached the place
with his whole army, in order to facilitate the entry of
thefe fuccours. But the duke of Savoy, falling on
the reinforcement, did fuch execution upon them, thatBattle cf St. ^ ot aDOve fi ve hundred got into the place. He nextQuintin.
° L
made an attack on the rrench army, and put them to
total rout, killing four thoufand men, and difperfing the
remainder. In this unfortunate acYion many of the chief
nobility of France were either flain or taken prifoners :
Among the latter was the old conftable himfelf, who,
fighting valiantly, and refolute to die rather than furvive
his defeat, was furroundedby
the
enemy,and thus fell
alive into their hands. The whole kingdom of France
was thrown into confternation : Paris was attempted to
be fortified in a hurry : And had the Spaniards prefently
marched thither, it could not have failed to fall into their
hands. But Philip was of a cautious temper; and he
determined firft to take St. Quintin, in order to fecure a
communication with his own dominions. A very little
time.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 449/481
MARY. 435
time, it was expected, would finifh this entcrprize; but c hatXXXVI T
the bravery of Colignyftill
prolongedthe
fiege feventeen\
,
i
days, which proved the fafety of France. Some troops1 5S7»
were levied and afTembled, Couriers were fent to recal
the duke of Guife and his army from Italy : And the
French, having recovered from their fir ft panic, put
themfelves in a pofturc of defence. Philip, after taking
Ham and Catelet, found the feafon fo far advanced, that
he could attempt no other enterprize : He broke up his
camp, and retired to winter-quarters.
But the vigilant activity of Guife, not fatisfied with
fecuring the frontiers, prompted him, in the depth of
winter, to plan an enterprize, which France, during her
greateft fucceiTes, had always regarded as impracticable,
and had never thought of undertaking. Calais was, in
that age, deemed an impregnable fortrefs ; and as it was
known to be the favourite of the Engiiih nation, bywhom it could eafily be fuccoured, the recovery of that
place by France was confidered as totally defperate. But Calais taken
Coligny had remarked, that, as the town of Calais was French;
iurrounded with marines, which, during the winter,were impaffable, except over a dyke guarded by two
caftles, St, Agatha and Newnam bridge, the Englifhwere of late accuftomed, on account of the lownefs of
their finances, to difmifs a great part of the garrifon at
the end of autumn, and to recal them in the fpring, at
which time alone they judged their attendance neceflary.
On this circumftance he had founded the defign of mak-ing a fudden attack on Calais ; he had caufed the place
to be fecretly viewed by fome engineers-
} and a plan of
the whole enterprize being found among his papers, it
fcrved, though he himfelf was made prifoner on the
taking of St. Qiiintin, to fugged the project of that
undertaking,and to direct the meafures of the duke of
Guife.
F f 2 Several
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 450/481
436 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.chap. Several bodies of troops defiled towards the fron-XXXVII. .
.
j f-jprs on various pretences ; and the wholebeing fuddenly1 55 s *
afiembled, formed an army, with which Guife made an
unexpected march towards Calais. At the fame time a
great number of French {hips, being ordered into the
channel, under colour of cruifing on the Englifh, com-
pofed a fleet which made an attack by fea on the fortifi-
cations. The French aflaulted St. Agatha with three
thoufand harquebufiers ; and the garrifon, though they
made a vigorous defence, were foon obliged to abandon
the place, and retreat to Newnam bridge. The fiege of
this latter place was immediately undertaken, and at the
fame time the fleet battered the rifbank, which guardedthe entrance of the harbour ; and both thefe caftles feemed
expofedto imminent
danger.The
governor,lord Went-
worth, was a brave officer ; but finding that the greater
part of his weak garrifon was enclofed in the caftle of
Newnam bridge and the rifbank, he ordered them to ca-
pitulate, and to join him in Calais, which, without their
affiftanee, he was utterly unable to defend. The gar-
rifon of Newnam bridge was fo happy as to effect this
purpofe -,but that of the rifbank could not obtain fuch
favourable conditions, and were obliged to furrender at
difcretion.
The duke of Guife, now holding Calais blockaded
by fea and land, thought himfelf fecure of fucceeding
in his enterprize ; but in order to prevent all accident,
he delayed not a moment the attack of the place. Heplanted his batteries againft the caftle, where he made a
large breach ; and having ordered Andelot, Coligny's
brother, to drain the foflee, he commanded an aflault,
which fucceeded : and the French made a lodgment in
the caftle. On the night following, Wentworth at-
temptedto recover this port. 3 but
havingloft two hun-
dred
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 451/481
MARY. 437
dred men in a furious attack which he made upon it °,c H A p «
,.XXXVII.
he found his garnfon fo weak, that he was obliged tOvv
;
capitulate. Ham and Guifnes fell foon after; and thus l 5S^'
the duke of Guife, in eight days, during the depth of
winter, made himfelf matter of this ftrong fortrcfs, that
had coft Edward III. a fiege of eleven months, at the
head of a numerous armv, which had, that very year,
been victorious in the battle of Crefly. The Englifhhad held it above two hundred years; and as it gavethem an eafy entrance into France, it was regarded as the
mod important poileiHon belonging to the crown. The
joy of the French was extreme, as well as the glory
acquired by Guife, who, at the time when all Europe
imaginedFrance to be funk
bythe unfortunate battle of
St. Quintin, had, in oppofition to the Englifh, and their
allies, the Spaniards, acquired poffeflion of a place, which
no former king of France, even during the diffractions of
the civil wars, between the houfes of York and Lancas-
ter, had ever ventured to attempt. The Englifh on the
other hand, bereaved of this valuable fortrefs, murmured
loudly againft the improvidence of the queen and her
council; who, after engaging in a fruitlefs war, for the
fake of foreign interefts, had thus expofed the nation to
fo fevere a difgrace. A treafury exhaufted by expences,
and burthened with debts : a people divided and dejected;
a fovereign negligent of her people's welfare; were cir-
cumftances which, notwithftanding the fair offers and
promifes of Philip, gave them fmall hopes of recovering
Calais. And as the Scots, inftigated by French coun-
cils, began to move on the borders, they were now ne-
ceffitated rather to look to their defence at home, than to
think of foreign conquefts.
After the peace, which, in confequence of king Ed- Affairs of
ward's treaty with Henry, took place between Scotland Scotland.
° Thuan. lib. xx. cap, 2,
F f 3 and
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 452/481
43 8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,C k a P. and England, the queen-dowager, on pretence of vifit-
XXXVII , .
t 1/ing her daughter andher
relations, madea
journey to1558. France, and (he carried along with her the earls of Hunt-
ley, Sutherland, Marifchal, and many of the principal
nobility. Her fecret defign was to take meafures for en-
gaging the earl of Arran to refign to her the government
of the kingdom ; and as her brothers, the duke of Guife,
the cardinal of Lorraine, and the duke of Aumale, had
uncontrouled influence in the court of France, fhe eafily
perfuaded Henry, and, by his authority, the Scottifh
nobles, to enter into her meafures. Having alfo gained
Carnegy of Kinnaird, Panter, bifhop of Rofs, and Gavin
Hamilton, commendator of Kilwinning, three creatures
of the governor's, fhe perfuaded him, by their means, to
confent to this refignationp
; and when every thing wasthus prepared for her purpofe, fhe took a journey to Scot-
land, and paffed though England in her way thither.
Edward received her with great refpecl and civility ;
though he could not forbear attempting to renew the old
treaty for his marriage with her daughter : A marriage,
he faid, fo happily calculated for the tranquillity, inte-
refl, and fecurity of both kingdoms, and the only means
of enfuring a durable peace between them. For his part,
he added, he never could entertain a cordial amity for anyother hufband whom fhe fhould chcofe; nor was it eafy
for him to forgive a man, who, at the fame time that he
difappointed fo natural an alliance, had bereaved him of
a bride, to whom his afFe&ions, from his earlieft infan-
cy, had been entirely engaged. The queen-dowagereluded thefe applications, by telling him, that, if any mea-
fures had been taken difagreeable to him, they were en-
tirely owing to the imprudence of the duke of Somerfet,
who, inftead of employing courtefy, carefTes, and gentle
offices, the proper means of gaininga
young princefs,
P Buchanan, lib. xiv, Keith, p. 56, Spotfwood, p, 92,
had
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 453/481
MARY. 439
had had recourfe to arms and violence, and had con- CHAP.
ilrained the Scottish nobility to fend their fovereign into , \
France, in order to intereff. that kingdom in protectingJ 55 s -
their liberty and independance «J.
When the queen -dowager arrived in Scotland, me
found the governor very unwilling to fulfil his engage-
ments ; and it was not till after many delays that he
could be perfuaded to refign his authority. Eut findingthat the majority of the young princefs was approaching,
and that the queen-dowager had gained the affe£Kons of
all the principal nobility, he thought it more prudent to
fubmit ; and having flipulated, that he mould be declared
next heir :o the crown, and mould be freed from giving
any account of his paft administration, he placed her
in pofTefiion of the power.; and me thenceforth aiTumed
the name of regentr
. It was a ufual faying of this
princefs, that, provided ibe could render her friends
happy, and could enfure to herfeif a good reputation,
fhe was entirely indifferent what befel her;
and though
this fentiment is greatly cenfured by the zealous reform-
ers s, as being founded wholly on fecular motives, it
difcovers a mind well calculated for the government of
kingdoms. D'Oiiel, a Frenchman, celebrated for capa-
city, had attended her as ambaiTador from Henry, but in
reality to affift her with his counfels in fo delicate an un-
dertaking as the adminiftration of Scotland : and this
man had formed a fcheme forlaying
ageneral
tax en
the kingdom, in order to fupport a (landing military
force, which might at once repel the inroads of foieign
enemies, and check the turbulence of the Scottifh nobles.
But though fome of the courtiers were gained over to
this project, it gave great and general di {content to the
nation ; and the queen-regent, after ingenuoufly con-
fefling, that it would prove pernicious to the kingdom,
1 Keith, p. 59.r 12th April, 1554.
s Knox, p.??.
F f 4 had
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 454/481
440 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP. nac j th e prudence to defifl from it, and to trull entirelyXXXVII
'Jfor her fecurity to the good-will and affections of her
J 558. fubjease
.
This laudable purpofe Teemed to be the chief object
of her adminiftration ; yet was fhe fometimes drawn
from it by her connexions with France, and by the in-
fluence which her brothers had acquired over her. When
Mary commenced hoffilities againft that kingdom, Henry
required the queen-regent to take part in the quarrel j
and file fummoned a convention of (rates at Newbottle,
and requeued them to concur in a declaration of war
againft England. The Scottifh nobles, who were be-
come as jealous of French, as the Englifh were of Spanifh
influence, refufed their affent ; and the queen was ob-
ligedto have recourfe to
flratagem,in order to effect
her purpofe. She ordered d'Oifel to begin fome fortifi-
cations at Eyemouth, a place which had been difmantled
by the lai! treaty with Edward ; and when the garrifon
of Berwick, as fhe forefaw, made an inroad to prevent
the undertaking, fhe effectually employed this pretence
to inflame the Scottifh nation, and to engage them in
hcftilities againft Englandu
. The enterprizes, however,
of the Scots proceeded no farther than fome inroads on the
borders : When d'Oifel, of himfelf, conducted artillery
and troops to beflege the caflle of Werke, he was recalled,
and (harpiy rebuked by the council w.
Marriage of In order to connect Scotland more clofely with France,thed.uphm
anc j to encre of e trie influence of the latter kinp-dom, itand the P »
queen of was thought proper by Henry to celebrate the marriage
between the young queen and the dauphin \ and a de-
putation was fent by the Scottifh parliament, to affift at
the ceremony, and to fettle the terms of the contract.
t Keith, p. 70. Buchanan, lib.xvi. u Buchanan, lib. xvi.
Thuan. lib. xix, c, 7. w Knox, p. 93,
The
Scots.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 455/481
M A P. Y. 441
The clcfe alliance between France and Scotland c H A p »
XXXVIIthreatened very nearly the repofe and fecurity of Mary ;
v
^J
and it was forefeen, that, though the factions and dif- 1 S'^">
orders, which might naturally be expected in the Scottifh
government during the ab fence of the fovereign, would
make its power lefs formidable, that kingdom would at
leaft afford to the French a means of invading England.
The queen, therefore,found it
neceflaryto
fummona zah
Jan.
parliament, and to demand of them fome fupplies to her
exhaufted exchequer. And fuc'i an emergency ufuallya
pirlia-
gives great advantage to the people, and as the parlia-n,er ' t *
ments, during this reign, had fhewn, that, where the
liberty and independency of the kingdom was menaced
with imminent danger, they were not entirely overawed
by the court ; we mall naturally expect, that the late ar-
bitrary methods of extorting money mould, at lead, be
cenfured, and, perhaps, fome remedy be for the future
provided againft them. The commons however, with-
out making any reflections on the part, voted, bcfides a
fifteenth, a fubfidy of four millings in the pound on
land, and two millings and eight pence on goods. Theclergy granted eight millings in the pound, payable, as
was alfo the fubfidy of the laity, in four years by equal
portions.
The parliament alfo palled an act, confirming all the
fales and grants of crown lands, which either were al-
readymace
bythe
queen,or fhould be made durino- the
feven enfuing years. It was eafy to forefee, that, in
Mary's prefent difpofition and fituation, this power would
be followed by a great alienation of the royal demefnes ;
and nothing could be more contrary to the principles of
good government, than to efrablifh a prince with veryextenfive authority, yet permit him to be reduced to beg-
gary. This act met with oppofnion in the houfe of com-
mons. One Copley exprefTed his fears left the queen,under
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 456/481
44 2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP, under colour of the power there granted, mio-ht alter thexxxvn *»**'
v
^ j fucceflion, and alienate the crown from the lawful heir:r 5S 8 « But his words were thought irreverent to her majeity :
He was committed to the cuftody of the ferjeant at arms ;
and though he exprefTed forrow for his offence, he wasnot releafed, till the queen was applied to for his par-don.
The Englifh nation, during this whole reign, were
under great apprehenfions, with regard not only to the
fucceflion, but the life, of the lady Elizabeth. The vio-
lent hatred, which the queen bore to her, broke out on
every occafion ; and it required all the authority of Phi-
lip, as well as her own great prudence, to prevent the
fatal efrecls of it. Theprincefs retired into the country;
and knowing that fhe was furrounded with fpies, (he pafT-
ed her time wholly in reading and ftudy, intermeddled
in no bufinefs, and faw very little company. While fhe
remained in this fituation, which for the prefent was me-
lancholy, but which prepared her mind for thofe great
actions, by which her life was afterwards fo much diftin-
guifhed; propofals of
marriagewere made to her
bythe
Swedifli ambafTador, in his mafter's name. As her firfr.
queftion was, whether the queen had been informed of
thefe propofals ; the ambafTador told her, that his matter
thought, as he was a gentleman, it was his duty firfr. to
make his addrefTes to herfelf: and having obtained her
confent, he would next, as a king, apply to her fifler.
But the princefs would allow him to proceed no farther;
and the queen, after thanking her for this inftance of
duty, defired to know how fhe flood affected to the Swe-
difh propofals. Elizabeth, though expofed to many pre-
fent dangers and mortifications', had the magnanimity to
referve herfelf for better fortune ; and fhe covered her
refufal with profeiiions of a paffionate attachment to a
fingle life, which, fhe faid, fhs infinitely preferred be-
fore
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 457/481
MAR Y. 443
fore any other f. The princefs fhowed like prudence in c H A7
p *
concealing her fentiments of religion, in complying with » ^^ j
the prcfent modes of worfhip, and in eluding all qucftions i5S*«
with regard to that delicate fubjecl:z
.
The money granted by parliament, enabled the queen
to fit out a fleet of a hundred and forty fail, which, be-
ing joined by thirty Flemifn (hips, and carrying fix thou-
fand land forces on board, was fent to make an attempt
on the coaft of Britanny. The fleet was commanded bylord Clinton : the land forces by the earls of Huntingdonand Rutland. But the equipment of the fleet and armywas fo dilatory, that the French got intelligence of the
defign, and were prepared to receive them. The Englifh
found Breft fo wellguarded
as to render anattempt
on
that place impracticable ; but landing at Conquet, they
plundered and burnt the town, with fome adjacent vil-
lages, and were proceeding to commit greater diforders,
when Kerfimon, a Breton gentleman, at the head of fome
militia, fell upon them, put them to rout, and drove them
to their fhips with confiderable lofs. But a fmall fqua-
dron of ten Englifh fhips had an opportunity of amply
reveno-inp- this difo-race upon the French. The marefchal
de Thermes, governor of Calais, had made an irruption
y Burnet, vol. ii. Collect. N° 37.
z The common net at that time, fays Sir Richard Baker, for catching of
proteftants, was the real prefence ;ami this net was uled to catch the lady
El zabeth : For b?mg afked one time what /lie thought of the woros of Chiiit,
This is my body^ whether foe thought it the true body of Chrhl that wis in
the facrament;
it is faid, that, after fome paufing, ihe thus anfwered t
Chrift was the word that fpakeitj
He took the bread and brake it j
And what the word did make ir,
That I believe and take it.
Which, though it may feem but a flight exprefllon, yet hath it !norc (o'S.&n efsthan at firfl fight appears ; at leaf}, it ferved her turn at that time, to efcap e
the net, which by direct anfwer.fhe could not have done. Baker's Chroni-
cle, p. 320.
1 into
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 458/481
444 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.CHAP. i n to Flanders, with an army of fourteen thoulana men ;XXXVII.
» *i and having forced a pafTao-e over the river Aa, had taken
1558. Dunkirk, and Berg St. Winoc, and had advanced as far
as Nev/port, but count Egmont coming fuddenly upon
him, with fuperior forces, he was obliged to retreat ; and
being overtaken by the Spaniards near Gravelines, and
finding a battle inevitable, he chofe very fkilfully his
ground for the engagement, He fortified his left wing
with all the precautions poflible ; and pofted his right
along the river Aa, which, he reafonably thought, gavehim full fecurity from that quarter. But the Englifh
fhips, which were accidentally on the coaft, being drawn
by the noife of the firing, failed up the river, and flank-
ing the French, did fuch execution by their artillery, that
they putthem to
flight 3and the
Spaniards gaineda com-
plete victorya
.
Meanwhile the principal army of France, under the
duke of Guife, and that of Spain, under the duke of Sa-
voy, approached each other on the frontiers of Picardy;and as the two kings had come into their refpective camps,attended by the flower of their nobility, men expected,
that fome great and important event would follow, from
the emulation of thefe warlike nations. But Philip,
though actuated by the ambition, poflefTed not the en-
terprizing genius of a conqueror ; and he was willing,
notwithstanding the fuperiority of his numbers, and the
two great victories which he had gained at St. Qiiintin
and Gravelines, to put a period to the war by treaty.
Negociations were entered into for that purpofe ; and as
the terms offered by the two monarchs were fomewhat
wide of each other, the armies were put into winter-quar-
ters, till the princes could come to better agreement. A-
mong other conditions, Henry demanded the reftitution of
Navarre to its lawful owner ;
Philipthat of Calais and
a Hollina<hed, p. 1150.
its
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 459/481
Mary. 415
its territory to England : But in the midfl of thefe neo-o- chap.XXXViT
ciations, news arrived of the death of Mary ; and Philip, t^^^^Jno longer connected with England, began to relax in his iss 8 *
firmnefs on that capital article. This was the only cir-
cumftance that could have made the death of that princefs
be regretted by the nation.
Mary had lono; been in a declining; (late of health ;
andhaving
mifraken herdropfy
for apregnancy, fhe had
made ufe of an improper regimen, and her malady daily
augmented. Every reflection now tormented her. Theconfeioufnefs of being hated by her fubjects, the profpect
of Elizabeth's fucceffion, apprehenfions of the danger to
which the catholic religion flood expefed, dejection for
the lofs of Calais, concern for the ill flate of her affairs,
and, above all, anxiety for the abfence of her hufband,
who, fhe knew, intended foon to depart for Spain, and
to fettle there during the remainder of his life : All thefe
melancholy reflections preyed upon her mind, and threw
her into a lingering hver, of v/hich fhe died, after a Deathof[hfliort and unfortunate reign of five years, four months, q«eea.
j i j J 7 lh Nov «
and eleven days.
It is not necefTary to employ many words in drawingthe character of this princefs. She pofTeiTed few qualities
either eftimable or amiable : and her perfon was as little
engaging as her behaviour and addrefs. Obftinacy, bi-
gotry, violence, cruelty, malignity, revenge, tyranny ;
everycircumftance of her character took a tincture from
her bad temper and narrow underflandin'g. And amidft
that complication of vices, which entered into her com-
pofition, we fhail fcarcely find any virtue but fincerity :
a quality, which (he feems to have maintained through-out her whole life; except in the beginning of her reign,when the neceffity of her affairs obliged her to make feme
promifes to the proteflants, which fhe certainly never in-
tended to perform. But in thefe cafes a weak bigotted
woman,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 460/481
446' HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
JL* p * woman, under the government of priefts, eafily finds ca-
—v /fuiftry fufficient to juftify to herfeif the violation of a
J 55 ? '
promife. She appears alio, as well as her father, to have
been fufceptible of fome attachments of friendfhip ; andthat without the caprice and inconftancy which were fo
remarkable in the conduct of that monarch. To whichwe may add, that, in many circumftances of her life, fhe
gave indications of refolution and vigour of mind ; a cua-
lity, which feems to have been inherent in her family.Cardinal Pole had long been fickly, from an inter-
mitting fever; and he died the fame day with the queen,about fixteen hours after her. The benign character of
this prelate, the modefty and humanity of his deportment,made him be univerfally beloved ; infomuch that, in a
nation, where the moft furious perfecution was carried
on, and where the moft violent religious factions prevail-
ed, entire juftice, even by moft of the reformers, has been
done to his merit. The haughty pontiff, Paul IV. had
entertained fome prejudices againft him : And when Eng-land declared war againft Henry, the ally of that pope,he feized the opportunity of revenge ; and revoking Pole's
legantine commifiion, appointed in his room cardinal
Peyto, an obfervantine friar and confeftbr to the queen.
But Mary would never permit the new legate to act uponthe commifiion ; and Paul was afterwards obliged to re-
ftore cardinal Pole to his authority.
There occur few general remarks, befldes what have
already been made in the courfe of our narration, with
regard to the general ftate of the kingdom during this
reign. The naval power of England was then fo incon-
fiderable, that, fourteen thoufand pounds being ordered to
be applied to the fleet, both for repairing and victualling
it, it was computed that ten thoufand pounds a-year
would afterwards anfwer all
necefTary charges
b. The
t> Burnet, vol. ill. p. 259.
arbitrary
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 461/481
M A R Y. 447
arbitrary proceedings of the queen, above-mentioned, chap.XXXVII.
joined to many monopolies granted by this princefs, as>
'
v"*
well as by her father, checked the growth of commerce ;J $&*
and fo much the more, as all other princes in Europeeither were not permitted, or did not find it neceftary, to
proceed in fo tyrannical a manner. Acts of parliament,
both in the laft reign and in the beginning of the prefent,
had laid the fame impofitions on the merchants of the
ftill-yard as on ether aliens : Yet the queen, immediatelyafter her marriage, complied with the folicitations of the
emperor, and, by her prerogative, fufpended thofe laws c.
No body in that age pretended to queftion this exercife of
prerogative. The hiftorians are entirely filent with re-
gard to it ; and it is only by the collection of public pa-
pers that it is handed down to us.
An abfurd law had been made in the preceding reign,
by which every one was prohibited from making cloth
unlefs he had ferved an apprenticefhip of feven years.
The law was repealed in the firft year of the queen : and
this plain reafon given, that it had occafioned the decay
of thewoollen
manufactory,and had ruined feveral
townsd
.
It is ftrange that Edward's law ihould have been revived
during the reign of Elizabeth ; and ftill more ftrange,
that it mould ftill fubfift.
A Passage to Archangel had been difcovered by the
Englifh during the laft reign 5 and a beneficial trade with
Mufcovy had been eftablifhed. A folemn embaiTy was
fent by the czar to queen Mary. The ambaftadors were
fhipwrecked on the coaft of Scotland -
3 but being hofpi-
tably entertained there, they proceeded on the journey,
and were received at London with great pomp and fo-
lemnitye
. This feems to have been the firft intercourfe,,
cRymer, vol. xv.'p. 364.
d1 Mar. Pajl, 2. cap. 7.
«Rolling-
ihed, p. 73«» Keylin, p. 71.
which
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 462/481
44 8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.C u a P. vvhich that empire had with any of the weftern potentates
v vi of Europe.
3 55 8 - A law was parTed in this reignf
, by which the num-ber of horfes, arms, and furniture, was fixed, which each
perfon, according to the extent of his property, fhould
be provided with for the defence of the kingdom. A manof a thoufand pounds a-year, for inftance, was obliged to
maintain at his own charge fix horfes fit for demi-lances,
of which three at ieaft to be furnifhed with fufficient har-
i\q[s 9 fteel faddles, and weapons proper for the demi-
lances ; and ten horfes fit for light horfemen, with furni-
ture and weapons proper for them : He was obliged to
have forty corHets furniftied : fifty almain revets, or inftead
of them, forty coats of plate, corflets or brigandines fur-
nifhed j
forty pikes, thirty long bows, thirty(heafs of
arrows, thirty fteel caps or fkulls, twenty black bills or
halberts, twenty haquebuts, and twenty morions or fallets.
We may remark, that a man of a thoufand marks of ftock
was rated equal to one of two hundred pounds a-year•
A proof that few or none at that time lived on their ftock
in money, and that great profits were made by the mer-
chants in the courfe of trade. There is no clafs above
a thoufand pounds a-year.
We may form a notion of the little progrefs made in
arts and refinement about this time from one circum-
ftance : A man of no lefs rank than the comptroller of
Edward VI.'s houfehoid payed only thirty (hillings a-
year of our prefent money for his houfe in Channel
Row 2: Yet labour and provifions, and confequently
houfes, were only about a third of the prefent price.
Erafmus afcribes the frequent plagues in England to the
naftinefs and dirt and flovenly habits among the people." The floors," fays he,
" are commonly of clay, ftrewed
f 4 & 5 Phil. & Mar, cap. 2, § Nicolfon's Hiftorical Library.
< c with
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 463/481
'55*.
MAR Y. 449
< c with rufhes, under which lies unmolefted an ancient c Hap.XXXVII,
«collection of beer, greafe, fragments, bones, fpittJe, v
i
" excrements of dogs and cats, and every thing that is *.
"nafty
h ."
Hollingshed, who lived in queen Elizabeth's reign,
gives a very curious account o^ the plain or rather rude
way of living of the preceding generation. There fcarcely
was a chimney to the houfes, even in confiderable towns :
The fire was kindled by the wall, and the fmoke fought
its way out at the roof, or door, or windows : Thehoufes were nothing but watling plaiftered over with
clay: The people flept on ftraw pallets, and had a goodround log under their head for a pillow; and almoft all
the furniture and utenfils were of wood f.
In this reign we find the fir ft general law with regardto high ways, which were appointed to be repaired by pa-
rish duty all over Englandk
.
fc Eraf. Epift. 432.* See note [S] at the end cf the volume*
^ a & 3 Phil. & Mar. cap. 8.
Vol. IV. Gg
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 464/481
[ 450 3
furaawjMm
/
NOTESTO THE
FOURTH VOLUME.
P
NOTE [A], p. 34.
PvOTESTANT writers have imagined, that, becaufe
a man could purchafe for a (hilling an indulgence for the
moil enormous and unheard-of crimes, there muft neceflarily
have enfued a total diffolution of morality, and confequentlyof civil fociety, from the practices of the Romifh church.
They do not confider, that, after all thefe indulgences were
promulgated, there flill remained (befides Hell-fire) the pu-niihment by the civil magifirate, the infamy of the world, and
fecret remorfes of confcience, which are the great motives
that operate on mankind. The philofophy of Cicero , who
allowed of an Elyjium, but rejected all Tartarus, was a muchmore univerfal indulgence than that preached by Arcemboldi
or Tetxel: Yet nobody will fufpect Cicero of any defign to
promote immorality. The fale of indulgences feems, there-
fore, no more criminal than any other cheat of the church of
Rome, or of any other church. The reformers, by entirely
abolishing purgatory, did really, initead of partial indulgences
fold bythe
pope, give, gratis,a
general indulgence,of a
fimilarnature, for all crimes and offences, without exception or dif-
tinction. The fouls, once configned to Hell, were never
fuppofed to be redeemable by any price. There is on record
only one inftance of a damned foul that was faved, and that
by the fpecial interceflion of the Virgin. See Pafcal's Pro-
vincial Letters. An indulgence faved the perfon, who pur-
chafed it, from purgatory only.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 465/481
I
NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME. 45*
NOTE [B], p. 48.
Tis
faid,that when
Henryheard that the commons made
a great difficulty of granting the required fupply, he was
Co provoked, that he fent for Edward Montague, one of the
members, who had a confiderable influence on the houfe ; and
he being introduced to his majefty, had the mortification to
hear him fpeak in thefe words : Ho! man ! *will 'they not fifer
my bill to pafs ? And laying his hand on Montague's head,
who was then on his knees before him : Getmy
bill
paffed byto-morroui , or elf e to-morrow this head of yours Jb all be
off. This
cavalier manner of Kenry fucceeded : For next day the bill
pafTed. Collinses Britijh Peerage. Grove's life of Wolfey.We are told by Hall, fol. 38. That cardinal Wolfey endea-
voured to terrify the citizens of London into the general loan,
exacted in 1525, and told them plainly, that it were better,
that fame Jhould fuffcr indigence, than that the king at this time
Jhould lack ; and therefore beware and rejijl not, ncr ruffe not in
this cafe, for it may fortune to cojl fome people their heads. Suchwas the ftyle employed by this king and his minifters.
NOTE [C], p. 94.
*Tp H E firft article of the charge againft the cardinal is his
procuring the legantine power, which, however, as ic
was certainly done with the king's confent and permiflicn, could
be novvife criminal. Many of the other articles alfo regardihe mere exercife of that power. Some articles impute to himas crimes, particular actions, which were natural or unavoid-
able to any man, that was prime minifter with fo unlimited
an authority ; fuch as receiving firft all letters from the kino's
minifters abroad, receiving firft all vifits from foreign mini-
fters, defirine that all applications mould be made through£ £j
him. He was alfo accufed of naming htimfelf with the kin?as if he had been his fellow, the king and I : It. is reportedthat fometimes he even put his own name before the king's,
ego et rexmeus. But this mode of expreihon is justified by the
Latin idiom. It is remarkable, that his whifpering in the
king's ear, knowing himfelf to be affected with venereal dif-
tempers, is an article againft him. Many of the charges are
G g 2 general,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 466/481
452 NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME.
general, and incapable cf proof. Lord Herbert goes Co far as
to affirm, that no man ever fell from fo high a itation, who
had fo few real crimes objected to him. This opinion is per-
haps a little too favourable to the cardinal. Yet the refutation
of the articles by Cromwel, and their being rejected by a houfe
of commons even in this arbitrary reign, is almolt a demon-
ftration of Wolfev's innocence. Henry was, no doubt, en-
tirely bent on his deftruction, when, on his failure by a parli-
amentary impeachment, he attacked him upon the fcatute of
provifors, which afforded him fo little juit hold on that mini-fter. For that this indictment was fubfequent to the attack in
parliament, appears by Cavendim's life of Wol fey, and Stowe,
p. 551, and more certainly by the very articles of impeach-
ment themfelves. Parliamentary Hiflory, vol. iii. p. 42. ar-
ticle 7. Coke's Inft. pt. 4. fol. 89.
NOTE [D], p. 102.
Tp V E N judging of this queition by the Scripture, to which
the appeal was every moment made, the arguments for
the king's caufe appear but lame and imperfect. Marriage in
the degree cf affinity which had place between Henry and
Catherine, is, indeed, prohibited in Leviticus ; but it is na-
tural to interpret that prohibition as a part of the Jewifh ce-
remonial ormunicipal
law : Andthough
it is therefaid,
in
the ccnciufion, that the gentile nations, by violating thofe
degrees of confanguinity, had incurred the divine difpleafure,
the exteniioii of this maxim to every precife cafe before fpeci-
hed, is fuppofmg the Scriptures to be compofed with a minute
accuracy and precifion, to which, we know with certainty,
the facred penmen did not think proper to confine themfelves.
The defcent of mankind from one common father,obliged
them, in the firft generation, to marry in the neareft degrees
of confanguinity : Inftances of a like nature occur among the
patriarchs : And the marriage of a brother's widow was, in
certain cafes, not only permitted, but even enjoined as a po-sitive precept by the Mofaical law. It is in vain to fay, that
this precept was an exception to the rule ; and an exception
confinedmerely
to theJewifh
nation. The inference is Hill
juit, that fuch a marriage can contain no natural or moral
turpitude ;
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 467/481
NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME. 453
turpitude ; otherwife God, who is the author of all purity,
would never, inany
cafe, haveenjoined
it,
NOTE [El, p. 112.
T)ISHOP BURNET has given us an account of the"number of bulls requifite for Cranmer's inflallation. By
one bull, directed to the king, he is, upon the royal nomina-
tion, made archbifhop of Canterbury. By a fecond, directed
to himfelf, he is alfo made archbifhop. By a third, he is ab-
folved from all cenfures. A fourth is directed to the fuffra-.
gans, requiring them to receive and acknowledge him as
archbifhop. A fifth to the dean and chapter, to the famepur-
pofe. A fixth to the clergy of Canterbury. A feventh to all
the laity in his fee. An eighth to all that held lands of it,
By a ninth he was ordered to be confecrated, taking the oath
that was in the pontifical. By a tenth the pall was fent him.
By an eleventh, the archbifhop of York, and the bifhop of
London, were required to put it on him. Thefe were To
many devices to draw fees to offices, which the popes had
erected, and difpofed of for money. It may be worth obferv-
jt»g, that Cranmer, before he took the oath to the pope, made
a proteftation, that he did not intend thereby to reitrain him-
felf from any thing that he was bound to, either by his duty
to God, the king, or the country ; and that he renounced
every thing in it that was contrary to any of thefe. This was
the invention or fome cafuiir, and not very compatible with
that flrict iincerity, and that fcrupulous confcience, of which.
Cranmer made profeffion. Collier, vol. ii. in Coll. N° 22,
gurnet, vol. i.p. 128, 129.
NOTE [F], p. 12S.
U E R E are the terms in which the king's minLler ex-
preiTed himfelf to the pope. An no.n, inquam, fane-
t;tas veftra plerofque habet quibufe urn arcanum aliquid credir
derit, putet id non minus celatum effe quam fi uno tantum
p.ectore contineretur ; quod multo magis fereniihmo AnglicRegi evenire debet, cui fmgali }n fuo regno funt fubjecti, ne-
que etiam velint, pcfTunt Reg: non eiie fideli^mk V22 nam,
epe illis, fi yel parvo momento ab illius voluntaterecederent.
6 f 3 U
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 468/481
454- NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME.
Le Grand, torn. iii. p. 113. The king once faid publiclybefore the council, that if any one {poke of him cr his actions,
in terms which became them not, he would let them know,that he was mafter. Et qu'il n'y auroit fi belle tete qu'il ne
fit voler. Id. p. 218.
NOTE [G], p. 758.'T' 1 K J S letter contains fo much nature and even elegance,
as to deferve to be transmitted to poiterity, without anv
alteration in theexprelTion.
It is asfollows."
Sir, your grace's difpleafure and my imprifonment are
things fo ftrange unto me, as what to write, or what to
excufe, I am altogether ignorant. Whereas you fend unto
me (willing me to confefs a truth, and (c obtain your fa-
vour) by fuch an one, whom you know to be mine ancient
profeiTed enemy, I no fooner received this me/Tage by him,than I
rightlyconceived
your meaning;
and,if, as
youfay, confeffing a truth indeed may procure my fafcty, I
mall with all willingnefs and duty perform your com-
mand.<e But let not your grace ever imagine, that your poor wife
will ever be brought to acknowledge a fault, where not fo
much as a thought thereof preceded. And to fpeak a truth,
neverprince
had wife moreloyal
in allduty,
and in all
true affection, than you have ever found in Anne Boleyn :
With which name and place I could willingly have con-
tented myfelf, if God and your grace's pleafure had been
10 pleafed. Neither did I at any time io far forget myfelf
in my exaltation or received queenfhip, but that I always
looked for fuch an alteration as I now find ; for the ground
of my preferment beingon no furer foundation than
yourtrace's fancy, the lcail alteration I knew was £t and fuffi-
cient to draw that fancy to fome other object You have
chofen me from a low cftate to be your queen and compa-
nion, far beyond my defert or defire. If then you found
me worthy of fuch honour, good your grace let not any
light fancy, or bad counfel of mine enemies, withdraw
your princely favour from me ; neitherlet that
ilain,that
unworthy ftain, of a difloyal heart towards your goodl« r* rac ^>
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 469/481
NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME. 455
"grace, ever caft fo foul a blot on your mod dutiful wife,
"and
the infantprincefs your daughter. Try me, good"
king, but let me have a lawful trial, and let not my fworntf enemies fit as my accufers and judges; yea let me receive
" an open trial, for my truth mall fear no open fhame ; then'*
lhall you fee either mine innocence cleared, your fufpicion** and confcience fatisfied, the ignominy and flander of thect world flopped, or my guilt openly declared. So that what-<c
foever God or you may determine of me, your grace may" be freed from an open cenfure, and mine offence being fo
filawfully proved, your grace is at liberty, both before God
" and man, not only to execute worthy punifhment on me as
" an unlawful wife, but to follow your affeclion, already fet-
(( tied on that party, for whofe fake I am now as I am, whofe" name I could fome good while fince have pointed unto,'.'
your gracenot
being ignorantof
my fufpiciontherein.
** But if you have already determined of me, and that notil
only my death, but an infamous ilander muft bring you the(<
enjoying of your defired happinefs ; then I defire of God," that he will pardon your great fin therein, and like wife<f mine enemies, the inftruments thereof, and that he will not" call you to a ftricl: account for your unprincely and cruel"
ufageof
me,at his
general judgment-feat,where both
you" and myfelf muft fhortly appear, and in whofe judgment I
" doubt not (whatsoever the world may think of me) mine" innocence fhall be openly known, and fufRciently cleared,
(t My laft and only requeft mall be, that myfelf may only'* bear the burden of your grace's difpleafure, and that it
*'may not touch the innocent fouls of thofe poor gentlemen,
f<
who (as I underftand) are likewife in flrait imprifonment" for my fake. If ever I have found favour in your fight, if
" ever the name of Anne Boleyn hath been pleating in your*'
ears, then let me obtain this requeft, and I will fo leave to" trouble your grace any further, with mine earnell: prayers'•"
to the Trinity to have your grace in his good keeping, and" to direct you in all your actions. From my doleful prifon*' in the
Tower,this fixth of
May ;" Your moll loyal and ever faithful wife,
G g 4*' Anne Boleyn,"
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 470/481
456 NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUxME.
NOTE [H], p. 169.
A Propofal had formerly been made in the convocation for"*•* the abolition of the lefler monafteries ; and had been
much oppofed by biihop Fifher, who was then alive. He told
his brethren, that this was fairly mowing the king the way,how he mieht come at the greater monafteries. " An ax ,"
faid he," which wanted a handle, came upon a time into the
" wood, making his moan to the great trees, that he wanted'*
a handle to work withal, and for that caufe he was con-" ftrained to fit idle ; therefore he made it his requeft to them,04 that they would be pieafed to grant him one of their fmall"
faplings within the wood to make him a handle ; who,"
miitrufting no guile, granted him one of their fmaller trees
ft to make aim a handle. But now becoming a complete ax," he fell fo to work, within the fame wood, that, in procefs
*< of time, there was neither great nor fmall trees to be foundli in the place, where the wood flood. And fo, my lords, if
"you grant the king thefe fmaller monafteries, you do but
" make him a handle, whereby, at his own pleafure, he mayte cut down all the cedars within your Lebanons." Dr. Bai-
lie's life of biihop Fifher, p. 108.
NOTE [I], p. 182.
*-p HERE is a curious paflage, with regard to the fup-
preftion of monafteries, to be found in Coke's inftitutes,
4th Inft. chap. 1. p. 44. It is worth tranferibing, as it fhews
th T e ideas of the Englifh government, entertained during the
reign of Henry VIII. and even in the time of Sir Edward
Coke, wnen he wrote his Inftitutes. It clearly appears, that the
people had then little notion of beingjealous of their liberties,were defirpus of making the crown quite independent, and
wilhed only to remove from themfelves, as much as poflible,
the burthens of government. A large Handing army, and a
fixed revenue, would, on thefe conditions, have been regard-ed as great bleffings ; and it was owing entirely to the prodi-
gality of Henry, and to hi* little fufpicion that the power of
thecroyyn could ever fail, that theEnglilh o\ve all their pre fen:
liberty.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 471/481
NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME. 457
liberty. The title of the chapter in Coke is, Advice concerning
newand
'
plaufible Projettsand
Offersin Parliament. " When
"any plaufible project,
'
fays he," is made in parliament,
'' to draw the lords and commons to afTent to any act, (efpe-"
cially in matters of weight and importance) if both houfes'* do give upon the matter projected and promifed their con-"
fent, it mail be moll neceffary, they being trufted for the**
commonv/ealth, to have the matter projected and promifed
f* (whichmoved the houfes to
confent)to be eftablifhed in
•' the fame act, left the benefit of the act be taken, and the" matter projected and promifed never performed, and fothe" houfes of parliament perform not the trull repofed in them,iK
as it fell out (taking one example for many) in the reignt( of Henry the eighth : On the king's behalf, the members" of both houfes were informed in parliament, that no king" or
kingdomwas fafe, but where the
kinghad three abili-
"ties ; 1. To live of his own, and able to defend his kingdom.
f%
upon any fudden invafion or infurreclion. 2. To aid his"
confederates, otherwife they would never aftifl him. 3." To reward his well deferring fervants. Now the project" was, that if the parliament would give unto him all the*'
abbies, priories, friories, nunneries, and other monasteries,"
that,for
ever in time then to come, he would take order" that the fame mould not be converted to private ufes : but
f* firft, that his exchequer for the purpofes aforefaid mouldli be enriched ; fecondly, the kingdom flrengthened by a" continual maintenance of forty thoufand well-trained fol-
iCdiers, with fkilful captains and commanders ; thirdly, for
" the benefit and eafe of the fubject, who never afterwards,**
(aswas
projected)in
anytime to
come,mould be
charged*' with fabfidies, fifteenths, loans, or other common aids ;
fifourthly, left the honour of the realm mould receive any
11 diminution of honour by the diflblution of the faid mona-
f fteries, there being twenty-nine lords of parliament of the" abbots and priors, (that held of the king per baroniam*" whereof more in the next leaf) that the king would createtc a number of nobles, which we omit. The faid monaileries
«< were given to the king by authority of divers acts of par-li
liament,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 472/481
458 NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME.<(
'liament, but no provision was therein made for the faidc<
project, or any part thereof."
NOTE [K], p. 192.
O L L I E R, in his ecclefiaftical hiflory, vol. ii. p. 152.v
i3 preferred an account which Cromwel gave of this
conference, in a letter to Sir Thomas Wyat, the king's em-bafiadorin Germany.
te The king's majefty," fays Cromwel,e for the reverence of the holy facrament of the altar, did fit
'
openly in his hall, and there prefided at the difputation,'
procefs and judgment of a miferable heretic facramentary,' who was burned the 20th of November. It was a wonder1 to fee how princely, with how excellent gravity, and ine-' fHmable majelty his highnefs exercifed there the very office
' of fupreme head of the church cf England. How benignly(
his grace effaced to convert the miferable man : How ftrong' and manifeft reafons his highnefs alledged againft him. I1 wifh the princes and potentates cf Chriftendom to have had' a meet place to have feen it. Undoubtedly they mould' have much marvelled at his majefty's moll high wifdom' and judgment, and reputed him no otherwife after the
f fame, than in a manner the mirror and light of all other1
kings and princes in Chrirt-endom." It was by fuch flatte-
ries, that Kenry was engaged to make his fentiments the
ilandard to all mankind ; and was determined to enforce, bythe fevereil penalties, his ftrong and manifeft reafons for tran-
fubftantiation.
NOTE [L], p. 195.
HH HEP.E is a fcory, that the duke of Norfolk, meeting, foon
after this aft was pailed, one of his chaplains, who wasfufpefted of favouring the reformation, faid to him,
" Now,"
Sir, what think you of the law to hinder prieifo from having" wives ?" "
Yes, my lord," replies the chaplain,"
you" have done that ; but I will anfwer for it, you cannot hinder
tf men's wj.yes from having priefrs."
NOTE
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 473/481
I
NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME. 459
NOTE [M], p. 210.
*T"* O fhow how much Henry fported with law and common-*•
{cnfe ; how fervilely the parliament followed all his
caprices ; and how much both of them were loft to all feme of
fhame ; an act was pafTed this feilion, declaring, that a pre-
contract fhould be no ground for annulling a marriage ; as if
that pretext had not been made ufe of both in the cafe of Anne
Boleyn and Anne of Cleves. But the king's intention in this
law is faid to be a defign ofreftoring the princefs Elizabeth to
her right of legitimacy ; and it was his character never to look
farther than the prefent object, without regarding the incon-
filiGncy of his conduct. The parliament made it high treafon
to deny the diflblution of Henry's marriage with Anne of
Cleves. Herbert.
NOTE [NJ, p. 221.
T was enacted by this parliament, that there fhould be
trial of treafon in any county where the king fhould ap-
point by commiffion. The llatutes of treafon had been ex-
tremely multiplied in this reign ; and fuch an expedient laved
trouble and charges in trying that crime. The fame parlia-
ment erected Ireland into a kingdom ; and Henry henceforth
annexed the title of kine of Ireland to his other titles. This
feiTion, he commons firfl: began the practice of freeing any of
their members, who were arreiled, by a writ iilued by the
fpeaker. Formerly it was ufual for them to apply for a writ
from chancery to that purpofe. This precedent encreaied the
authority of the commons, and had afterwards important
conferences. Hollingfhed, p. 955, 956. Baker, p. 289.
NOTE [O], p. 230.HE persecutions, exercifed during James's reign, are
not to be afcribed to his bigotry, a vice, cf which he
feems to have been as free as Francis the firft or the emperor
Charles, both of whom, as well as James, mewed, in differ-
ent periods of their lives, even an inclination to the new doc-
trines. The extremities, to which ail thefe princes were car-
ried, proceeded entirelyfrom the fituation of affairs,
duringthat age, which rendered it impoffible for iru-rn to act wkh,
greater
T
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 474/481
460 NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME.
greater temper or moderation, after they had embraced the
refolution of fupporting the ancient eflablifhments. So violent
was the propenfity of the times towards innovation, that 3
bare toleration of the new preachers was equivalent to a form-
ed defign of changing the national religion.
NOTE [P], p. 296.
OPOTSWOOD, p. 75. The fame author, p. 92. tells,
us a (lory, which confirms this character of the popifh,
clergy in Scotland. It became a great difpute in the univerfity
of St. Andrews, whether the pater mould be faid to God or
the faints. The friars, who knew in general that the reform-
ers neglected the faints, were determined to maintain their,
honour with great obftinacy, but they knew not upon what
topics to found their doctrine. Some held that the pater was
faid to Godformaliter, and to faints materialiier ; others, to
God principaliter, and to faints minus principaliter ; others
would have it ultimate and non ultimate : But the majority
feemed to hold, that the peter was faid to God capiendo fertile,
and to faints capiendo large, A iimple fellow, who ferved the
fub prior, thinking there was fome great matter in hand, that
made the doctors hold fo many conferences together, alked him
one day what the matter was ; the fub-prior anfwering, Tom,
that was the fellow's name, toe cannot agvee to <zvhom the pater-
nofter Jhould be faid. He fuddenly replied, To whom, Sir,
Jhould it be faid, hut unto God? Then faid thefub-prior.,
What ft all we do with the faints ? He anfwered, Give them
Aves a?id Creeds enow in the devil's name ; for that may fuffice
them. The anfwer going abroad, many faid, that he had
given a wifer decijion than all the doctors had done with all thrift
difli actions.
NOTE [QJ, p. 321,
A MOTHER act, pruTed this feffion, takes notice in the' r *
preamble, that the city of York, formerly well inha-
bited, v/as now mucl* decayed : Infomuch that many of the
cures could not affor^ a competent maintenance to the incum-bents. To remedy this inconvenience, the maeiftrates were
impowered to unite ;>s many parifhes 33 they though; proper,
X An
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 475/481
NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME. 461
An ecclefiaflical hiilorian, Collier, vol. ii. p. 230, thinks,
that this decay of York is chiefly to be afcribed to thedifiblu-
tion of monaileries, by which the revenues fell into the handsof perfons who lived at a diflance.
A very grievous tax was irnpofed this fefiion upon the wholeflock and monied interefl of the kingdom, and even upon its
induftry. It was a fnillingin the pound yearly, during three
years, on every perfon worth ten pounds or upwards : Thedouble on aliens and denizens. Thefe lad, if above twelve
years of age, and if worth lefs than twenty fnillings, were to
pay eight pence yearly. Every wether was to pay two-pence
yearly ; every yew three-pence. The woollen manufactures
were to pay eight-pence a pound on the value of all the cloth
they made. Thefe exorbitant taxes on money are a proof,
that few people lived on money lent at intereit : For this tax
amounts to half cf theyearly
income of all
money holders,
during three years, eftimating their interefl at the rate allowed
by law ; and was too grievous to be borne, if many perfons
had been affected by it. It is remarkable, that no tax at all
was laid upon land this fefiion. The profits of merchandise
were commonly fo high, that it was fuppofed it could bear
this imposition. The moil abfurd part of the laws feemsto be
the tax upon the woollen man u failures. See 2 & 3 Edw. VI.
cap. 36. The fubfequent parliament repealed the tax on fheepand woollen cloth. 3 & 4 Edw. VI. cap. 23. But they con-
tinued the other tax a year longer. Ibid.
The clergy taxed themfelves at fix ihillings in the pound to
be paid in three years. This taxation was ratified in parlia-
ment, which had been the common practice iince the reform-
ation, implying that the clergy have no legiilative power,even over themfelves. See 2 & 3 Edw. VI. cap. 35.
NOTE [R], p. 401.
*Tp HE pope at firfl gave cardinal Pole powers to tranfaclA
only with regard to the pall fruits of the church lands ;
but being admonifhed of the danger attending any attempt to-
wards a refumption of the lands, he enlarged the cardinal's
powers,
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 476/481
462 NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME.
powers, and granted him authority to enfure the future pof-fellion of the church lands to the prefent proprietors. Therewas only one claufe in the cardinal's
powersthat has
givenoc-
caficn for fome fpeculation. An exception was made of fuch
cafes as Pole mould think important enoup-h to merit the beine
communicated to the holy fee. But Pole (imply ratified the
pofTeilion of all the church lands; and his commiffion had
given him full powers to that purpofe. See Harleyan Mifcel-
lany, vol. vii. p. 264. 266. It is true, fome councils have
declared, that it exceeds even the power of the
popeto alie-
nate any church lands ; and the pope, according to his con-
venience, or power, may either adhere to or recede from this
declaration. But every year gave folidity to the right of the
proprietors of church lands, and diminished the authority of
the pepes ; (o that men's dread of popery in fubfequenttimes was more founded on party or religious zeal, than on-
very folid reafons.
NOTE [SJ, p. 449.J HE p afT a ge tf Hollingjhed, in the Dijcourfe prefixed to his
tiiflory, and ~ujhich fome afcribe to Harrifcn, is as follonvs.
Speaking of the encreafe of luxury : Neither do I fpeak this in
reproach of any man ; God is my judge ; but to lhew, that I
do rejoice rather to fee how God has blefled us with his good
gifts, and to behold how that in a time wherein all things are
grown to molt exceflive prices, we do yet find the means to
obtain and atchieve fuch furniture as heretofore has been im-
pofiib'e: There are old men yet dwelling in the village where
I remain, which have noted three things to be marvelloufly
aUered in England within their found remembrance. One is
the multitude of chimnies lately erected ; whereas in their
vounp- days, there were not above two or three, if fo many,in moft uplandifh towns of the realm (the religious houfes and
manor places of their lords always excepted, and peradven-
ture ferae great perfonage) ; but each made his fire againft a
rert-doiTe in the hall where he dined and dre/Ted his meat.
The fecond is the great amendment of lodging : For, fa'id
they, our fathers and we ourfelves have lain full oft upon
draw paiiettes covered onry with a meet under coverlets madeof
7
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 477/481
NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME. 463
of dao-fwaine or hophr.rlots (I ufe their own terms), and a
goodround
logunder their head inftead of a bolder. If it
were fo, that the father or the good-man of the ho ufe had a
matrafs or flockbed, and thereto a fack of chaff to reft his
head upon, he thought himfelf to be as well lodged as the lord
of the town : So well were they contented. Pillows, faid
they, were thought meet only for women in child bed : As
for fervants, if they had any meet above them, it was well :
For feldom had they any under their bodies to keep them
from the pricking ftraws, that ran oft through the canvas,
and razed their hardened hydes. The third thing they tell
of is, the exchange of Treene platers (fo called, I fuppofe,
from Tree or IVood) into pewter, and wooden fpoons into filver
or tin. For fo common were all forts of treene veffels in old
time, that a man mould hardly find four pieces of pewter (of
which one was peradventure a fait) in a good farmer's houfe.
Defcription of Britain, chap. x. Again, ivchap.xvi. In
times paft men were contented to dwell in houfes builded of
fallow, willow, &c. ; fo that the ufe of the oak was in a man-
ner dedicated wholly unto churches, religious houfes, princes
palaces, navigation, &c. but now fallow, &c. are rejected,
and nothing but oak any where regarded ; and yet fee the
change, for when our houfes were builded of willow, then
had we oaken men ; but now that our houfes are come to be
made of oak, cur men are not only become willow, but a
great many altogether of draw, which is a fore alteration.
In thefe the couraoe of the owner was a fuflicient defence too
keep the houfe infafecy ; but now the afturance of the timber
mull defend the men from robbing. Now have we manychimnies ; and yet our tenderlincs complain of rheums, ca-
tarrhs, and pofes ; then had we none but reredofTes, and our
heads did never ach. For as the fmoke in thofe days was
fuppofed to be a fuflicient hardening for the timber of the
houfe ; fo it was reputed a far better medicine to keep the
goodrnan and his family from the quacke or pofe, wherewith,as then, very few were acquainted. Again, in chap, xviii.
Our pewterer? in time paft employed the ufe of pewter only
upon dimes and pots, and a few other trifles for fervice ;
whereas now, they are grown into fucr exqufiite cunning,that
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 478/481
464 NOTES TO THE FOURTH VOLUME.
that they can in manner imitate by infufion any form or fa-
fhion of cup, difh, fait, or bowl or goblet which is made by
goldfmith's craft, though they be never fo curious and very
artificially forged. In fome places beyond the fea, a garniflx
of good flat Englifh pewter (I fay flat, becaufe diihes and
platters in my time begin to be made deep and like bafons,
and are indeed more convenient both for fauce and keepingthe meat warm) is almoft efleemed fo precious as the like
number of vefTels that are made of fine filver. If the reader is
curious to knew the hour of'
?neals in queen Elizabeth's reign, he
may learn it from the fame Author. With us the nobility,
gentry, and lludents do ordinarily go to dinner at eleven be-
fore noon, and to fupper at five, or between five and fix at
afternoon. The merchants dine, and fup feldom before
twelve at noon and' fix at night, efpecially in London. Thehufban'dmen dine alfo at high noon, as they call it, and fup
at feven or eight ; but out of term in our univerfities the
fcholars dine at ten. *
Froifiart mentions waiting on the duke of Lancafter at
five o'clock in the afternoon, when he had fupped. Thefe
hours are flill more early* It is hard to tell, why, all
over the world, as the age becomes more luxurious, the
hours become later. Is it the crowd of amufements that
pulh on the hours gradually ? or are the people of fafhion bet-ter pleafed with the fecrecy and filence of nocturnal hours,
when the indubious vulgar are all gone to reft t In rude
ages men have few amufements or occupations but what day-
light affords them.
END OF THE FOURTH VOLUME.
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 479/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 480/481
7/28/2019 The History of England, David Hume - VOL 4 (1777)
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-history-of-england-david-hume-vol-4-1777 481/481
top related